Incident Details
On 30 August 2005 at 1920 UTC, an Ikarus C42 FB UK microlight aircraft, registered G-IAJS, was involved in an incident at Kinderton Farm, Middlewich, Cheshire. The information was submitted by the pilot via an Aircraft Accident Report Form.
Correction to Previous Report
The AAIB Bulletin No. 1/2006 contained a statement that the pilot/owner had purchased a carburettor heating system for the Rotax 912 engine but had decided not to fit it to the aircraft. This text was subsequently corrected: the pilot/owner had purchased a carburettor heating system; however, he elected not to fit it for the flight test programme.
PFA Response
In light of this and other incidents, the Popular Flying Association (PFA) added the following text to first flight letters: it is now legally mandatory for all PFA aircraft to have third party and (except for single seaters) passenger liability insurance cover whenever they are flown. The text also notes that several serious accidents have occurred with homebuilt aircraft during the flight test phase when owners got airborne inadvertently while taxiing, lost control, and crashed. In some cases, owners were not authorised to fly the aircraft, and in one case had not done up their straps. Light aircraft, especially microlights, can leave the ground unexpectedly if the throttle sticks or if there is a gust of wind when taxiing at speed. They should therefore only be taxied if fully airworthy, signed up, and legal for flight, with the pilot in control authorised to carry out the flight testing.