What happened
On 22 August 2014, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-BYOU, was involved in an accident during a private flight departing from Mount Airey Airstrip in South Cave, East Yorkshire. During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot noted fuel levels of 22 litres in the right tank and 15 litres in the left tank. Following a successful engine start and normal taxiing procedures, the pilot configured the aircraft with one stage of flap and applied full throttle for takeoff from Runway 07.
After the aircraft rotated and became airborne, the pilot initiated a steep climb, navigating around a telephone mast on the left and accounting for a wind component from the right. During this climb, the engine ceased operation, leading to an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft came to rest near the far end of the runway. The pilot sustained serious injuries, including internal damage, two broken ankles, and a fractured spine.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading from the pre-flight checks to the loss of power. While the engine had started without difficulty and magneto checks were reported as satisfactory, the sudden loss of power during the climb was the primary focus of the inquiry.