What happened
On 8 February 2011, an Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar, registration G-NIDG, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire. The pilot attempted to depart the airfield but encountered significant visibility issues caused by the canopy misting up due to cold and humid conditions. To clear the obstruction, the pilot used a fan and heater, which necessitated a return to the hangar.
During the subsequent takeoff attempt, the engine lost power at an altitude of approximately 10 feet. The aircraft was unable to maintain flight and overran the runway strip. The aircraft eventually passed through an electric fence and collided with obstacles located roughly 30 metres beyond the end of the strip. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to both wings and a slight buckle in the rear spar carry-through member of the fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had inadvertently left the fuel selector in the OFF position during the initial takeoff attempt. After the engine failed, the pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel to the OFF position to create a leaner mixture and then back to the ON position. This process caused the mixture to become excessively rich, making the engine difficult to restart and requiring the use of the choke.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was the pilot's failure to ensure the fuel selector was in the ON position after restarting the engine.
- The pilot's oversight was attributed to being in a hurry and operating under unnecessary pressure.
- Environmental factors, specifically cold and humid weather, contributed to the initial difficulty with canopy visibility.