History of Flight
The pilot of G-PLSA, a Pulsar XP, departed Fife Airport intending to fly circuits to investigate intermittent engine issues. The wind was light and variable, favoring Runway 24. The initial takeoff and climb were uneventful, but on the downwind leg the pilot could not reduce engine RPM below 3,500. The aircraft remained fast on the first approach despite the pilot raising the nose to slow down, forcing a go-around. The second approach was similarly fast with the same nose-high technique and RPM stuck at 3,500; a go-around was again initiated, during which the aircraft yawed left under full power. On the third approach, still fast and nose-high, the pilot aimed to land on the runway numbers to maximize stopping distance. During the flare, the pilot attempted to reduce power but the engine instead surged to full throttle, causing a violent left yaw. The pilot's further efforts to reduce power resulted in the nose dropping and the aircraft impacting the ground on the grass to the left of the runway.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained extensive damage: propeller blades broken off, fuselage damage around the cockpit, nosewheel and right landing gear detached, and damage to the nose and both wing roots. The pilot, the sole occupant, suffered minor injuries and freed himself from the harness before exiting the aircraft. He later acknowledged that he had not considered turning the engine off for the landing.
Inspection Findings
Subsequent examination by an LAA Inspector revealed that the rear nut securing the throttle lever to the angle bracket attachment on the rear of the instrument panel had become detached, allowing the lever to sit freely on the throttle shaft. The shaft was stepped, with a larger diameter on the engine side; the loose nut could prevent the larger diameter from entering the bracket assembly, thereby stopping the throttle from closing fully. Details of this event were also published in the LAA's June 2015 Light Aviation magazine.