What happened
On 29 June 2006, a Piper PA-23-250 Aztec, registration G-BBEY, was involved in a fatal accident near Thirkleby Hall, North Yorkshire. The aircraft had recently undergone maintenance to its left engine fuel system and was performing its first flight following the work. During takeoff from Bagby Airfield, witnesses observed the aircraft climbing slowly and banking steeply to the left. Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft entered a left-hand spin at an altitude of approximately 100 feet, which was too low for the pilot to recover. The aircraft struck the ground and was destroyed by a subsequent fire, resulting in one fatality.
Prior to the accident, the pilot had attempted to land on Runway 24 but experienced several bounces due to the runway's downslope. This prompted a go-around attempt. During this maneuver, the aircraft was observed to climb with difficulty, and the landing gear was seen being raised. Witnesses also noted smoke emanating from the engine exhausts during the takeoff roll.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components. The examination of the fuel-injected engines revealed that while they were in reasonable mechanical condition, the left engine's fuel injector distribution valve contained heavy corrosion. Specifically, one fuel injector nozzle on the left engine was found to be completely blocked by aluminium alloy corrosion products. This blockage was linked to water contamination previously identified during maintenance.
Analysis of the accident site and the aircraft's flight path indicated that the aircraft impacted the ground in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude. The investigation also looked into the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the go-around, noting that the aircraft's low speed and high angle of attack during the maneuver likely contributed to the wing stall.