What happened
On 26 August 2016, a modified Rans S6-ESD Coyote II, registration G-MLYD, was conducting a private flight from Stoke Medway on the Hoo peninsula toward a private airstrip in East Sussex. Before departure, the pilot had topped up the fuel tank with 10 litres of pre-mixed Mogas.
While cruising at approximately 1,400 ft near Cobham, close to Rochester, the aircraft's engine began to lose power. The pilot, who was flying the aircraft without prior experience on this specific type, attempted to diagnose the issue. However, the pilot felt that too much time had passed while searching for the source of the malfunction, making it difficult to identify a safe landing site. Consequently, the aircraft entered a stall and struck a group of trees. The pilot sustained one minor injury (a cut finger).
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators reviewed the flight details, the pilot's experience, and the circumstances leading up to the loss of power. The aircraft sustained damage to its wings, cockpit frame, engine mounting, and propeller following the impact with the trees.