What happened
On 10 July 2005, a Piper PA-28-181, registration G-MERI, was conducting a training flight from Carlisle Airport in Cumbria. Following standard power checks, the pilot taxied to Runway 25 and commenced the takeoff roll. The aircraft's acceleration appeared normal, and it achieved a climb speed of 75 kt. However, at an altitude of approximately 100 ft, the engine experienced a sudden and rapid loss of power. The pilot initially prepared to land on the remaining runway, but the engine subsequently recovered to full power, allowing the aircraft to climb again.
While climbing straight ahead at 300 ft, the engine suffered a second loss of power, which remained at approximately idle. Realising the aircraft lacked the gliding range to reach the intended landing field to the right, the pilot decided to execute a low-level circuit to return to Runway 25. During the descent, a collision with hedges became unavoidable. The pilot reduced the aircraft's speed to mitigate the impact, but the aircraft struck the top of a hedge at a right angle. The aircraft then crossed a minor road and came to a stop in a hedge on the opposite side of the road, where the landing gear and both wings became detached. There were no fatalities or injuries among the four occupants, all of whom evacuated through the cockpit door.
The investigation
Investigators examined the engine and the aircraft's recent history. The engine, a Lycorne O-360-A4M, was approximately 10 hours away from its next 50-hour inspection and had no prior record of power issues. The aircraft had been stored in a hangar overnight and had been refuelled the previous day. Prior to the flight, the pilot had checked the fuel system for water contamination.
Regarding environmental factors, the outside air temperature was 27ºC with a dew point of 17ºC. Because the power loss occurred at takeoff power rather than during a descent, investigators determined that severe carburettor icing was highly unlikely. Furthermore, a magneto check performed during pre-takeoff power checks suggested that a partial ignition failure was also improbable. The investigation also considered whether water might have entered the carburettor during the rotation phase, though a definitive cause for the power loss could not be established.