What happened
On 28 March 2007, a Rand KR-2, registration G-BOUN, was performing a private flight near Burton on the Wolds. Following a touch-and-go landing, the aircraft was climbing at an altitude between 100 and 150 feet when the engine began to vibrate severely before stopping completely. A witness observed a black, rectangular object, roughly the size of a forearm, detach from the aircraft and fall into a nearby field of oilseed rape.
As the engine failed, the aircraft entered a gentle left turn. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field at Horse Leys Farm, where the aircraft struck a hedge. The impact caused the aircraft to overturn onto its back. The aircraft sustained severe damage and was destroyed. The engine and the structure forward of the cockpit were torn away, with debris scattered approximately 20 to 40 metres from the impact site. There were no fatalities and the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and reviewed video footage captured by a police helicopter. The investigation noted that the aircraft's left wing had detached upon impact and the propeller was found with one blade broken off near the root.
Investigators were unable to perform a detailed analysis of the propeller or the spinner due to the loss of evidence. The pilot reported that, following police permission to clear the site, he burned and disposed of the damaged propeller blade and other components. Furthermore, the pilot stated that the broken propeller spinner had been stolen, and no photographs of these specific parts were taken prior to their destruction.
Findings
- The investigation could not definitively confirm the cause of the propeller blade detachment.
- A witness noted the touch-and-go landing appeared firmer than usual, suggesting the propeller blade may have struck the ground during the landing.
- A bird strike was considered unlikely as there were no bird remains found on the aircraft and the pilot did not observe any birds prior to the failure.
- The failure of the propeller spinner was also deemed unlikely to be the primary cause, as the spinner was not observed falling from the aircraft during the climb-out.