What happened
On 28 August 2000, a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, registration N88PL, was conducting a private flight from Grove Fields Farm in Warwickshire. Following two successful departures using the same takeoff direction, the pilot initiated a third takeoff. At the time of this departure, the aircraft was carrying a passenger load similar to the previous flights but with less fuel and no baggage, leading the pilot to believe the aircraft was lighter than during the earlier departures.
Although the aircraft reached the normal airborne position, the engine suffered a sudden loss of power. The pilot attempted to land the aircraft straight ahead, applying maximum braking; however, without engine power, the aircraft continued to skid across the grass. The aircraft eventually breached a fence at the end of the runway and came to a stop 35 metres into an adjacent field. There were no injuries to the pilot or the five passengers on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to its propeller and landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and the results of an engine test run. Investigators noted that the engine had previously undergone significant repairs in March 200 and had been fitted with a new crankshaft, bearings, and seals following a prior accident in 1999.
During the post-accident examination, the pilot observed that the spark plugs and exhaust components appeared notably black and sooty, leading to a hypothesis that over-fuelling of the engine might have contributed to the power loss. The engine was subsequently removed for a test bed run performed to specification to identify the mechanical cause of the failure.