What happened
On 6 April 2013, a Cherry BX-2, registration G-CGTE, was conducting a handling assessment near Defford, Worcestershire. The flight was intended to evaluate the aircraft's performance following the installation of a new engine cowling profile. After completing successful high and low-speed tests, the pilot flew parallel to Runway 09 at 1,500 ft to check wind conditions.
During the flight, the engine stopped suddenly. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times without success. While maneuvering to land in a fallow field adjacent to the runway, the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear. However, the gear lever became caught on the right thigh of the pilot's flying suit, necessitating both hands to free the lever before the gear could be deployed. During this maneuver, the aircraft's nose dropped and it banked to the left. As the aircraft approached the field, the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to come to rest on its main wheels and engine cowling. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine failure and the circumstances surrounding the landing gear deployment. Post-accident inspections of the fuel system revealed no defects, and sufficient fuel was present in the tanks. The investigation also looked into the mechanical state of the engine and the physical obstruction that prevented the timely extension of the landing gear.