What happened
On 14 August 2014, a Thruster T600N 450, registration G-PSUK, was conducting training flights at Balado Park Airfield in Perthshire. During the third circuit of a series of touch-and-go maneuvers, the aircraft encountered a large, slow-moving weather system. As the student pilot was on the base leg, rain began to fall and the wind shifted to a tailwind. To compensate, the student repositioned the aircraft to perform a touch-and-go on the reciprocal runway.
While the approach and touchdown appeared routine, the engine began to sputter and lost power at an altitude of approximately 85 feet during the subsequent climb-out. The instructor took control of the aircraft and stabilized the airspeed at the recommended 45 kt best glide speed. While searching for a landing site, the instructor initially turned 20° to the right, but diverted back to the left to avoid a row of trees and marshy ground. The aircraft ultimately made a heavy landing in a wings-level attitude and came to a halt after striking a hedgerow. Both crew members sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent forced landing. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's flight path, the weather conditions at the time of the incident, and the mechanical state of the engine. The investigation noted that the aircraft sustained damage to the nosewheel, the pod, the rear subframe tube behind the left seat, and the left side front lift strut.