What happened
On 6 September 2015, a Pegasus XL-R, registration G-MVDV, was conducting a solo training flight from Otherton Airfield. Following a period of engine warming and taxiing, the student pilot departed from Runway 25. While the engine appeared to function correctly during the initial takeoff roll and climb, the pilot noticed a loss of power once the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 100 to 150 feet.
In an attempt to rectify the issue, the pilot verified the fuel tap position and manually pumped the throttle. However, the engine continued to lose power and began to cut out intermittently. Consequently, the pilot elected to shut down the engine and execute a forced landing straight ahead into a nearby potato field.
Upon touchdown, the soft ground caused the nose landing gear to collapse. The aircraft subsequently rolled onto its left side. There were no injuries to the pilot during the incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the engine's performance following the accident. Post-incident testing revealed that the engine operated normally for an extended period after the carburettor had been cleaned. This led investigators to determine that the power loss was likely caused by a small amount of dirt blocking a jet or the presence of water within the fuel system.