What happened
On 3 February 2019, a Kolb Twinstar Mk III Xtra, registration G-MGPX, was performing a private flight from Thorney Island, West Sussex. During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power, but the engine experienced a momentary drop in power followed by a sudden, rapid surge to maximum thrust. This fluctuation caused the aircraft to veer toward the left side of the runway. In response to the instability, the pilot reduced the engine power to idle; however, the aircraft continued its leftward trajectory and struck a wooden fence post located beside the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the aircraft's fuselage and wing. The pilot, who was wearing a full safety harness, sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events during the takeoff phase and the engine's performance. The pilot's experience included 386 total flying hours, though only 13 of those hours were completed on this specific aircraft type. The investigation focused on the mechanical behavior of the Jabiru 2200A piston engine during the application of full power.