What happened
On 8 October 2017, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-BYSN, was performing a private flight from a grass airstrip near Over, Gloucestershire. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. At the time of departure, the runway surface was damp and a light crosswind was blowing from the left.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft accelerated as expected. As the pilot reached a rotation speed of approximately 42 mph IAS, the aircraft felt heavier than usual. Upon liftoff, the aircraft lost momentum and began a significant leftward turn over a ploughed field. In an attempt to avoid descending over the ploughed area, the pilot applied full right rudder to steer back toward the runway. This maneuver caused the right wing to drop and strike the ground. Following the impact, a fire broke out at the front of the engine cowling. Both occupants exited the aircraft without assistance, sustaining no injuries, though the aircraft suffered extensive fire damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. The examiner noted that the pilot suspected an engine power loss occurred during the rotation phase, which triggered a left wing stall. The subsequent use of right rudder was believed to have induced a stall in the right wing. Due to the severity of the fire damage, the specific cause of the engine power loss could not be determined.