Incident Details
On 13 October 2002 at 1435 hours UTC, a privately operated Europa aircraft, registration G-BWZT, departed from Crowfield Airfield's grass Runway 13 for a local flight. The pilot, a 59-year-old male holding a Private Pilots Licence with 359 total flying hours (173 on type), was accompanied by one passenger, also a qualified pilot. Weather conditions were fine with light winds, visibility exceeding 10 km, and broken cloud at 2,000 feet. The ambient conditions were damp, and overall weather was forecast to worsen.
The takeoff was normal; the landing gear and flaps were raised as the aircraft crossed the upwind end of the runway. The passenger observed that maximum engine revolutions per minute (rpm) were achieved throughout the takeoff run and initial climb. However, at an altitude between 150 and 200 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a loss of power. Unable to maintain height and with no suitable landing area directly ahead, the pilot executed a gentle left turn. With the landing gear retracted to avoid the risk of overturning, he carried out a forced landing in a large field of stubble. The aircraft was shut down, and both occupants vacated without injury. The landing gear was subsequently lowered, and the aircraft was towed back to the airfield.
Post-Accident Investigation
Initially, the pilot attributed the power loss to possible fuel starvation. However, inspection revealed that the carburettor bowls were full of uncontaminated fuel. The fuel filters and both the mechanical and electrical fuel pumps were checked and found to be satisfactory. The fuel in use was unleaded motor fuel. The pilot later considered carburettor icing as a possibility, given the damp conditions at the time of takeoff, although he believed the Rotax 912-UL engine installation was not prone to carburettor icing. Since the accident, the aircraft has been repaired and flown for five to eight hours without further incident.