What happened
On 13 April 2015, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-TIVS, was conducting a private flight from Tracy Island, Chard, towards Dunkeswell. While flying at approximately 1,800 ft amsl near Corfe, Somerset, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by cloud and visible moisture. In an attempt to descend below the cloud layer, the pilot reduced engine power, at which point the engine failed.
Following the loss of power, the pilot identified a specific field as the only viable landing site and turned the aircraft toward it. However, during the approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was too high to reach the intended destination. In an effort to lose altitude, the pilot executed a steep turn to avoid obstacles, but this maneuver resulted in a greater loss of height than expected. Consequently, the aircraft was too low to complete a controlled approach, leading to a heavy nose-first impact in an unsuitable field. The impact caused the nose wheel to collapse and resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the engine failure and the subsequent flight path during the forced landing attempt. The pilot's assessment suggested that the engine failure was likely caused by carburettor icing.