What happened
On 17 March 2012, a Gemini Flash IIA, registration G-MVSN, was being prepared for a training flight at Eshott Airfield in Northumberland. The student pilot had moved the aircraft from its hangar to a nearby area and was performing pre-flight checks. As part of the routine, the pilot intended to start the engine to allow it to warm up while waiting for an instructor.
During the start sequence, the pilot pulled the start cord, which caused the engine to immediately run at full power. Although the pilot attempted to use the brakes, the aircraft continued to move forward. The pilot tried to manipulate the throttle controls, but these actions failed to reduce the engine speed. As the aircraft accelerated toward a hangar, the pilot chose to jump from the aircraft to avoid a collision. During the jump, the aircraft's left wheel struck the pilot's right knee, resulting in one serious injury consisting of a broken leg and torn ligaments.
Following the pilot's exit, the aircraft continued its uncontrolled run, narrowly missing the hangar before becoming airborne. The aircraft climbed steeply, stalled, and entered a dive, performing a low-level loop before striking the ground at high speed. The impact destroyed the aircraft and damaged a nearby wire fence, and a small fire ignited in the surrounding grass and trees.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and analysis of CCTV footage. Investigators examined the engine start procedure and the state of the throttle controls. It was noted that the pilot was not wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the incident, as he had not yet completed the boarding process.
Findings
- The engine reached full power immediately upon starting.
- The pilot was unable to control the engine speed using the hand or foot-operated throttles.
- The engine ran to full power on start-up despite the pilot's attempts to manage the controls.
- The pilot's decision to abandon the aircraft prevented a collision with the hangar but led to his physical injuries.