What happened
On 31 August 2020, a Mignet HM-1000 Balerit, registration G-MRAM, was performing a private local area flight from Coleman Green Airstrip in Hertfordshire. The flight was departing from a 450-metre grass runway. Following standard pre-flight procedures, including a successful power check and fuel inspection, the aircraft commenced its takeoff roll on Runway 06. The takeoff proceeded normally until the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 50 ft. At this point, the engine ceased operation without any prior warning or abnormal running indications.
With the engine failed, the pilot performed a straight-ahead landing. Upon contacting the ground, the nose landing gear caught in the soft earth, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and come to an abrupt halt. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger. Following the impact, the occupants managed to unbuckle their harnesses and move the aircraft back to the airstrip, though the soft ground conditions made this process difficult. The incident resulted in damage to the nose landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent landing. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and light, variable winds. The investigation also noted that the runway surface at the upwind end of the strip consisted of a recently ploughed field, contributing to the soft nature of the ground.
Findings
- The engine stopped abruptly during the initial climb phase.
- No identifiable cause for the engine failure was found during the investigation.
- The nose landing gear dug into the soft soil upon touchdown, leading to the forward tipping of the aircraft.