Introduction
On 1 November 2007 at 1611 UTC, a Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe (registration G-BUKT) experienced a loss of engine power while on a private flight near Dolgellau, Gwynedd. The aircraft, manufactured in 1946 and powered by a single Continental Motors Corp C85-12F piston engine, was extensively damaged. The sole occupant, the pilot, sustained minor injuries.
History of the Flight
The pilot departed Sleap Aerodrome in Shropshire intending to fly along the Welsh coast between Barmouth and Aberystwyth before returning to Sleap. Pre-flight inspections, including engine oil and fuel sample checks, revealed nothing unusual, and engine power checks were satisfactory. The pilot reported scattered cloud between 3,000 and 4,500 ft amsl, while eyewitnesses recalled a relatively low cloudbase at the time.
En route to the coast, the pilot made several deviations to remain clear of low cloud. He drifted south of his planned track and adopted a northwesterly heading toward Dolgellau. As the aircraft passed over a ridge at approximately 2,600 ft amsl, it encountered a strong updraft. Shortly after, the engine note changed; although it continued to run, it no longer produced significant power and did not respond to throttle movements or the application of carburettor heat.
Forced Landing
Losing height rapidly, the pilot chose not to transmit a MAYDAY call, focusing instead on flying the aircraft and finding a suitable field for a forced landing. He lined up with a chosen field but was too high, overshot, and subsequently found himself very low, with woodland ahead to the left and a rough, steep hillside to the right. With airspeed decaying, he attempted to turn the aircraft to the right, whereupon it stalled and dropped into a tree.
Aftermath
The aircraft was extensively damaged and leaked fuel, but the cabin area remained intact. The pilot, who was wearing a lap and diagonal harness, sustained only minor injuries. Eyewitnesses assisted him in exiting the aircraft.
The pilot believed that the loss of engine power was probably the result of carburettor icing. Carburettor icing is more likely to occur in the more humid conditions that exist near the cloudbase.