Accident Summary
On 25 February 2012 at 1300 UTC, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration G-BSOT, sustained damage to its fuselage and rudder during a forced landing west of Swansea Airport. The aircraft was on a training flight with a crew of two (instructor and student) and no passengers. Neither occupant was injured, and both evacuated the aircraft unaided.
Flight Details
After taking off from Swansea Airport, at approximately 400 feet above ground level, the instructor heard a loud bang followed by severe airframe vibration and a significant reduction in engine power. The instructor elected to make an immediate forced landing in a field. The aircraft touched down without incident, but the instructor was unable to stop the aircraft before it hit a boundary hedge.
Engine Examination
Examination of the engine identified that a spark plug had failed and released from one of the cylinder heads. The aircraft is powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine. The commander, aged 59, held a Commercial Pilot’s Licence and had a total flying experience of 8,630 hours, including 4,000 hours on type. In the last 90 days he had flown 118 hours, with 33 hours in the last 28 days.