What happened
On 29 May 2022, a Tecnam P92-EM Echo, registration G-WHEN, was conducting a private flight near City Airport (Manchester Barton). Shortly after departing from Runway 26L, while at an altitude of approximately 750 ft agl and roughly two miles from the airfield, the aircraft's engine suffered a loss of power. The pilot reported that the engine failed to respond to throttle inputs, with engine speed dropping to idle.
In response to the power loss, the pilot identified a suitable field to perform a forced landing. However, as the aircraft made contact with the soft ground, the nosewheel caused the aircraft to flip over. The incident resulted in one serious injury to the pilot and one minor injury to the passenger. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent landing. The pilot confirmed that prior to the power loss, he had verified that the fuel tanks were correctly selected and that the magnetos, fuel pump, and carburettor heat were all in the appropriate 'on' positions. Following the accident, the engine was tested on a bench and was found to be operating satisfactorily. Consequently, the specific reason for the loss of power during flight could not be identified.