What happened
On 14 July 2015, a Tipsy Nipper T.66 Series 2, registration G-NIPS, was conducting a private flight at an altitude of 1,000 ft when the pilot detected an irregular rattling sound originating from the engine. In response to this noise, the pilot initiated a diversion toward West Tisted Airstrip in Hampshire.
As the aircraft approached within approximately one mile of the airfield, a loud bang occurred, followed by a total loss of engine power. Upon evaluating the terrain, the pilot determined that suitable landing sites were limited and chose a ploughed field as the most viable option for an emergency descent. To mitigate the risk of the aircraft flipping upon impact, the pilot intentionally flew the approach near a farm tractor to signal for assistance. However, the field was covered in a brown standing crop which caused the aircraft to invert immediately upon touchdown. The pilot sustained serious spinal injuries and remained trapped in the wreckage until farm workers arrived to right the aircraft and provide rescue before emergency services reached the scene.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine, which had sustained significant internal damage. While the extent of the destruction made it difficult to pinpoint the exact initiating component, the evidence suggested a mechanical failure within the engine assembly. The investigation focused on the sequence of the engine's malfunction and the environmental factors of the landing site.