What happened
On 8 October 2009, a Piper J3C-65 Cub, registration G-NCUB, was performing a practice landing at a farm strip near Ledbury, Herefordshire. Following the landing, the pilot initiated a climb. Upon reaching an altitude of approximately 800 ft, the aircraft experienced a partial loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to use the carburettor heat to rectify the issue, but the engine failed to respond.
As the aircraft lost altitude, the pilot initially identified a field for an emergency landing but ultimately determined it was too small. The pilot managed to extend the glide to a more appropriate field, but the subsequent landing was heavy, causing significant damage to the landing gear and propeller. The aircraft was subsequently declared damaged beyond economic repair. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report provided by the pilot and meteorological data from the Met Office. Investigators reviewed the atmospheric conditions for the Ledbury area at the time of the incident. The Met Office aftercast provided temperature, dew point, and humidity levels from the surface up to 920 ft.
While the investigation did not include a detailed mechanical examination of the engine or its systems, the meteorological data was analyzed in the context of known icing risks. The data indicated conditions where the Aviation Authority’s Carburettor Icing Prediction Chart suggested a risk of serious icing between the surface and 920 ft.