What happened
On 23 May 2012, a Jodel D18, registration G-JRKD, was conducting a private flight from Old Sarum Airfield in Wiltshire. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and one passenger, had previously flown earlier that morning without issue. During the takeoff roll on grass Runway 24, the aircraft initially experienced some difficulty starting but eventually functioned normally.
Immediately following liftoff, the aircraft settled back onto the runway on its main wheels. As the pilot attempted to establish a standard 60 kt climb, the engine began to run roughly. The pilot observed a drop in engine RPM and a loud misfire. Despite activating the electric fuel pump, the engine performance did not improve.
Recognizing the loss of power, the pilot lowered the nose to maintain an indicated airspeed of 50 kt and identified a nearby field to the left for an emergency landing. After a brief radio transmission to announce the intention, it became clear that the aircraft's altitude was insufficient to reach the intended field. The aircraft descended rapidly into a pig farm, where the left wing struck a pig shelter. The impact caused the aircraft to pitch nose-down and overturn. Both occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events following the engine's failure to maintain climb power. The investigation noted that the engine was still warm from a previous flight earlier that day. The pilot considered several potential causes for the misfire, including ignition or fueling issues, as well as the possibility of carburetor icing. The investigation also looked into the aircraft's flight path and the physical impact with the pig farm structures.