What happened
On 15 September 2002, a Jabiru UL-450, registration G-TYKE, departed Sandtoft for a short private flight to Rufforth. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot applied carburettor heat for several minutes. While passing near the Drax power station at approximately 1,500 feet, the engine began to misfire. Despite the pilot applying further carburettor heat and activating the fuel pump, the engine RPM dropped, and the aircraft lost all power within two minutes.
Following the engine failure, the pilot issued a MAYDAY call, though no response was received from the local unlicensed airfield. The pilot prepared for an emergency landing by securing all harnesses, turning off fuel and electrical switches, and retrieving a fire extinguisher. The aircraft was brought down in a flat, recently seeded field. While the main gear touched down successfully, the nose wheel contacted the soil and the leg buckled. This caused the aircraft to dig into the ground and somersault onto its back.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine failure and the subsequent impact. Examination of the aircraft's fuel revealed no signs of contamination in the tank, filter, or carburettor bowl. Subsequent test runs of the engine showed it was functioning normally.
Investigators analyzed the atmospheric conditions, noting a high humidity environment near the Drax power station. The station's cooling towers release large volumes of water into the atmosphere, which can significantly increase local humidity. Additionally, the investigation looked into the pilot's engine operating procedures, specifically the use of low RPM settings during cruise flight.