What happened
On 3 July 1999, a Cassutt Racer IIIM, registration G-BPVX, was participating in a Formula 1 air race qualification at Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight. The pilot, who was performing his first qualification for the event, was executing a series of required maneuvers, including an aileron roll, as part of the competition requirements.
During the maneuver, the aircraft was observed at approximately 500 feet performing a right-hand roll. As the aircraft reached an inverted position, the engine stopped, though the propeller continued to rotate. The pilot attempted a corrective maneuver, resulting in a significant nose-up pitch and a subsequent outside bunt. This movement subjected the aircraft to a negative G-load of approximately -4.5G. Following this, the aircraft entered a Dutch rolling motion and an incipient spin to the left, eventually impacting a grass area approximately 10/0 meters south of Runway 30. The impact resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the cockpit environment, and the physical effects of the maneuvers performed. Investigators analyzed video footage from a spectator to reconstruct the sequence of the roll and the subsequent pitch changes.
Technical examination of the Cassutt Racer IIIM revealed that the engine controls were set to a rich mixture and the throttle was advanced beyond idle, but not at full power. The investigation also looked into the cockpit ergonomics, noting that the pilot's height and the use of a large racing helmet resulted in very limited headroom. Evidence showed the pilot's helmet had contacted the canopy frame during the maneuver. Furthermore, the investigation considered the physiological impact of the rapid transition from negative to positive G-forces, known as the 'push-pull phenomenon,' and the lack of an inverted fuel system, which would have caused fuel starvation during the inverted phase of the flight.