History of the Flight
The student pilot and instructor were conducting touch-and-go landings on Runway 29 at Panshanger Airfield. On the fifth landing, the aircraft touched down at approximately the midpoint of the runway, whose grass surface was wet. The instructor reported that when he applied power for takeoff, the aircraft became airborne but the engine "hesitated." He aborted the takeoff and applied brakes but was unable to stop the aircraft before it crossed a ditch and struck a fence at the aerodrome boundary.
Injuries and Damage
A man walking a dog along a footpath outside the airfield perimeter fence stated that he was struck by the aircraft, which ran over and trapped the dog, causing him serious injury. The pilot and instructor, both uninjured, vacated the aircraft without assistance. The aircraft sustained several punctures from fence posts and a bent propeller. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the wings were pierced by a fence post. The maintenance organization that inspected the aircraft after the accident could not determine what might have caused the engine to hesitate, as the impact disrupted the engine air intake assembly.
Discussion
AAIB reports of similar loss-of-engine-power accidents have identified carburettor icing as a possibility. Another accident report involving a similar engine model noted that the engine is susceptible to rich cut in certain circumstances, particularly if the throttle is opened abruptly with carburettor heat selected. Panshanger Airfield is licensed by the CAA, with a condition that any public right of way bordering the landing area must be adequately sign-posted with notices warning the public of danger from aircraft. Signs indicating the presence of the aerodrome are placed along the fence bordering the end of Runway 29. The licence does not define 'adequately,' but CAP 168 describes the process for CAA inspectors to assess compliance.