What happened
On 2 January 1998, a private flight involving an Avid Aerobat, registration G-BUDH, was operating from Ingoe Farm Strip in Northumberland. Following a successful morning flight, the pilot refuelled the aircraft with 4 Star petrol and performed standard pre-flight inspections. Due to the long and wet condition of the grass runway, the pilot taxied the length of the strip to evaluate the surface.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 27, the aircraft initially performed normally. However, immediately after lifting off, the pilot detected the smell of fuel and elected to land straight ahead. Upon returning to the strip, the pilot found that the aircraft's braking capability was insufficient to prevent it from reaching the end of the runway, which terminated in a deep quarry. In an attempt to stop, the pilot applied full braking, which caused the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in a vertical, nose-down position.
Shortly after the aircraft stopped, a fire broke out. Although the pilot successfully shut off the ignition and electrical systems and exited the aircraft, a fire quickly spread through the cockpit and fuselage. The pilot attempted to use a dry powder fire extinguisher, but the device failed to discharge. The fire ultimately consumed the fuselage and much of the wings, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the fuel leak and the failure of the fire suppression equipment. The pilot identified a suspected leak originating from a tee-piece connector related to the fuel primer. This specific component had a history of leaking earlier in the aircraft's service life and had been replaced approximately 26 flight hours prior to the accident. The investigation noted that the Popular Flying Association (PFA) had no other recorded issues with this specific connector type in Rotax engine setups.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the malfunction of the fire extinguisher. While the pilot was able to pull the safety ring, the trigger could not be depressed to release the extinguishing agent. The extinguisher was approximately five years old and was within one month of its expiration date, though the exact cause of the mechanical failure could not be determined as the unit was disposed of.