What happened
On 13 April 2009, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-AVPJ, was conducting a private flight near Honeybourne (disused) Airfield in Hereford. Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, the aircraft's engine suffered a sudden loss of power. In response to the engine failure, the pilot identified a suitable field for an emergency landing. The pilot managed to execute a landing on the main wheels, keeping the tail of the aircraft clear of the ground as the airspeed decreased.
However, as the aircraft moved across the landing area, the right main wheel encountered a deep depression in the ground. This impact caused the right landing gear strut to collapse, resulting in the aircraft becoming inverted. Despite the severe damage to the aircraft, both the pilot and the passenger remained uninjured and were able to exit the cockpit without assistance.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft's engine to determine the source of the power loss. The inspection revealed that the engine failure was caused by the failure of a valve stem.