What happened
On 22 June 2001, a De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ADXT, was conducting an air experience flight near Fishbourne, West Sussex. The flight, which was part of a training session, included a demonstration of aerobatic maneuvers. During a right-hand barrel roll, the aircraft reached an inverted position with the nose positioned above the horizon. At this moment, the engine ceased operation.
The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet when the failure occurred. The instructor maintained the roll until the wings reached a level position and subsequently identified a large grass field for an emergency landing. Due to the lack of sufficient altitude to perform a dive to regain airflow to the engine, the pilot issued a 'MAYDAY' call and began a left-hand circuit toward the selected site. To maximize the available landing distance, the aircraft approached on a southerly heading at roughly 55 knots.
As the aircraft reached the flare stage of the landing, the pilot discovered that the field contained standing crops roughly one meter in height. Upon touchdown, the main landing gear became entangled in the crops, causing the aircraft to flip onto its back. Both occupants of the aircraft escaped without no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of the engine failure and the conditions of the landing site. The pilot provided information regarding the aircraft's attitude during the maneuver and the visibility of the field's surface. The investigation established that the instructor had selected the field based on its appearance from the air, but the presence of the crops was not apparent until the final moments of the approach.
Findings
- The engine stopped while the aircraft was in an inverted attitude.
- The pilot had allowed too high a nose-up attitude while inverted, which led to the engine failure.
- The chosen landing site contained standing crops that were approximately one meter tall.
- The main landing gear caught in the tops of the crops during the landing attempt, causing the aircraft to overturn.