What happened
On 23 May 2015, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-CCYJ, was conducting a private local flight from Linton Airfield, Kent, carrying one pilot and one passenger. During the initial engine start sequence, the pilot identified an incorrectly seated split pin. To rectify this, the pilot shut down the engine, exited the cockpit to secure the pin, and subsequently restarted the engine.
Following the second start, the aircraft departed the runway normally. However, while maintaining a low altitude, the engine experienced a reduction in power. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining portion of the runway ahead. The aircraft touched down but failed to stop within the runway boundaries, ultimately striking a fence. There were no injuries to the occupants, though the aircraft sustained damage to the left wing structure, propeller, left wheel, and pods.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the engine power loss. During the post-accident inspection, it was discovered that the passenger's headset cable had become entangled with the choke cable. This entanglement had caused the choke to remain approximately one-third open.
Findings
- The reduction in engine power was caused by the choke being partially open due to interference from the passenger's headset cable.
- The pilot's attention was diverted by the need to correct the incorrectly seated split pin during the pre-flight phase.
- While the pilot had verified the choke position during the first engine start, the interruption caused by the split pin meant the choke position was not re-verified after the second engine start.