What happened
On 3 April 2016, a Rans S6-ESD Coyote II, registration G-MYGP, was completing a private flight of approximately one hour. While performing the downwind leg for landing on Runway 09 at North Moor Airfield, the pilot performed a standard high-RPM engine check. As the aircraft transitioned to the base leg, the pilot reduced power, at which point the engine ceased operation. Despite attempts to restart the engine following a radio report of the malfunction, the aircraft remained unpowered.
The pilot decided to perform a straight-ahead landing into a nearby field characterized by short crops. While the aircraft reached the ground without causing injury to the two occupants, the right main landing gear leg detached as the aircraft came to a stop. This occurred when the right mainwheel entered a rut previously created by a tractor.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the sequence of events leading to the engine stoppage and the subsequent mechanical failure of the landing gear. The pilot identified carburettor icing as the likely cause of the engine failure.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred following a reduction in power after a period of high-RPM operation.
- The aircraft landed in a field rather than on the prepared runway due to the loss of engine power.
- The detachment of the right main landing gear leg was caused by the wheel sliding into a tractor rut during the landing roll.
- Following the incident, the aircraft has been retrofitted with an electrical carburettor heating system, including a temperature gauge, switch, and ammeter, to prevent future icing occurrences.