What happened
On 17 October 2008, a Cyclone AX3/503, registration G-MYFZ, was conducting a training maneuver at Chilbolton Airfield in Hampshire. The pilot intended to perform a simulated engine failure following takeoff. During the execution of this procedure, the aircraft's airspeed decreased rapidly. This led to a stall at an altitude of approximately 100 ft, according to the pilot's assessment. Due to the low altitude, there was inadequate height available to recover the aircraft from the stall, causing it to strike the runway with significant force on the nosewheel.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of airspeed and the subsequent impact. It was established that while the pilot was attempting to practice the engine failure procedure, the aircraft's climb profile was too steep. This steep climb prevented the aircraft from maintaining sufficient speed to avoid a stall before reaching a safe altitude. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and caused minor injuries to the occupants on board.