Pilot performs successful belly landing after engine power loss in Folland Gnat

Casualties unknown • Near to the A414 road, 1 nm north-west of North Weald Airfield, Essex, GB

A private flight in a Folland Gnat T Mk 1 ended in a high-speed forced landing in a field near North Weald after the engine lost power.

What happened

On 17 September 2004, a Folland Gnat T Mk 1, registration G-BVPP, was conducting a private flight from North Weald Airfield. The flight was originally intended to proceed to RNAS Yeovilton, but due to deteriorating weather, the pilot decided to return to North Weald.

As the aircraft approached the airfield, the amber fuel warning light illuminated. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and failed to accelerate despite the pilot's attempts to use the throttle and relight procedures. Realising that the aircraft lacked the energy to complete the necessary turn to reach the runway, the pilot opted for a forced landing rather than ejecting.

The aircraft performed a belly landing in a partially ploughed field approximately one nautical mile northwest of North Weald at a speed of roughly 160 kt. The aircraft bounced and slid across the ground, causing damage to the underside of the fuselage. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped the aircraft uninjured and were able to move to a safe distance.

The investigation

Following the accident, the aircraft was recovered to North Weald for examination. Investigators focused on the fuel system and the engine's performance. While the engine was found to be capable of producing full power when the air-fuel ratio controller (AFRC) was disconnected, the unit had been contaminated with soil during the ground slide.

Technical examinations of the fuel system revealed that a float switch in the No 1 centre tank had failed because it was stuck to sealant. Additionally, investigators found a small strip of white sealant in a coarse mesh strainer within the fuel transfer pipe. While the investigation could not pinpoint a single definitive cause for the power loss, the evidence suggested a restriction or lack of fuel supply to the engine.

Findings

  • The engine lost power during the approach to North Welb Airfield.
  • The pilot elected to perform a forced landing instead of ejecting, a decision that avoided the risk of the aircraft potentially striking an inhabited area had it been destroyed by ejection.
  • A restriction in the fuel supply to the engine was the most probable cause of the power loss.
  • The fuel low-level float switch was inoperative due to being adhered to sealant.
  • There was no definitive technical cause established for the initial loss of engine power.

Probable cause

The investigation could not establish a definitive cause for the loss of power, but it was probable that a restriction or lack of fuel supply occurred in the No 1 centre tank, leading to the engine's inability to maintain power.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2004-09-17 Folland Gnat T Mk 1 accident near Near to the A414 road, 1 nm north-west of North Weald Airfield, Essex, GB?

A private flight in a Folland Gnat T Mk 1 ended in a high-speed forced landing in a field near North Weald after the engine lost power.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2004-09-17 involved a Folland Gnat T Mk 1, registration G-BVPP, at Near to the A414 road, 1 nm north-west of North Weald Airfield, Essex, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The investigation could not establish a definitive cause for the loss of power, but it was probable that a restriction or lack of fuel supply occurred in the No 1 centre tank, leading to the engine's inability to maintain power.

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