What happened
On 4 November 2008, a Cirrus SR22, registration N770CP, was performing a private flight near Staverton Airport, Gloucestershire. The flight was intended to return the aircraft to its home base following a 100-hour maintenance inspection. After a routine pre-flight check, the pilot commenced the takeoff roll.
During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 150 ft, the pilot attempted to switch off the electric fuel pump. At this moment, a loud metallic bang was heard, and engine power decreased rapidly. The pilot immediately transitioned to a descent to maintain a safe flying speed and identified a potential landing site, despite the presence of power lines and a motorway in the flight path. The pilot opted not to deploy the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPster) due to the low altitude.
While attempting to glide across the motorway, the aircraft struck a tree. This caused a heavy deceleration before the aircraft landed heavily in a field. The impact resulted in substantial damage, rendering the aircraft beyond economic repair. The pilot sustained serious injuries, while the passenger suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
AAIB investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses, including air traffic controllers who observed the engine noise change significantly during the takeoff roll. The investigation also included a review of the aircraft's digital flight recorder, though the device was found to have ceased functioning months prior due to a manufacturer fault.
Engine inspections revealed that the propeller blades were bent, indicating the engine was still rotating at the time of impact, though not under significant power. Because the aircraft had to be made safe by emergency services immediately after the crash, investigators were unable to definitively verify the positions of the cockpit controls at the moment of the failure.
Findings
- The engine experienced a sudden loss of power shortly after takeoff.
- No definitive cause for the engine failure was established.
- The pilot's attempt to switch off the fuel pump coincided with the power loss, leaving open the possibility that the fuel supply was inadvertently interrupted, though the pilot and passenger denied moving the fuel selector or throttle.
- The presence of obstacles, including a motorway and power lines, complicated the selection of an emergency landing site.