Incident Overview
On 18 December 2002, at 1529 hours UTC, a Rand KR-2 aircraft, registration G-BUDF, experienced a loss of engine power while manoeuvring near Kemble Aerodrome. The aircraft was engaged in a private flight with a single pilot and no passengers. The pilot had recently acquired the aircraft and was unfamiliar with the type, having accrued no flying hours on the Rand KR-2 prior to this flight.
Flight Details
The aircraft had recently flown uneventfully for several hours leading to the renewal of its Permit to Fly. Following a briefing by the engineer/pilot who had prepared the aircraft for its permit renewal, the new owner took off with the intention of assessing its handling characteristics. The flight was uneventful for approximately 40 minutes, during which the aircraft was manoeuvred between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. The pilot then radioed Kemble, stating his intention to join the circuit on right base leg for a landing on Runway 08 and applied power to climb from his current height of 800 feet above ground level to the circuit height of 1,000 feet. However, no response was obtained from the engine.
Forced Landing and Outcome
Despite applying carburettor heat and opening and closing the throttle several times, the pilot was unable to restore engine power and declared a 'MAYDAY' to Kemble. He selected a field for a forced landing, which was downwind with a wind speed of 8 to 10 knots, but appeared large and greenish. During the approach, the pilot noted that the ground appeared to be rushing past and that the propeller had stopped windmilling. As the pilot flared for touchdown, he turned off the electrical master switch. The aircraft bounced once and rolled on its mainwheels for some distance before encountering deep tractor wheel ruts, causing it to flip over onto its back and come to rest. The pilot released his harness and evacuated the aircraft through the broken cockpit side without injury.
Post-Accident Examination
The aircraft sustained damage to the vertical fin, cockpit, nose, and propeller. The pilot reported that he had sufficient fuel on board and both booster pumps were switched on. He had used carburettor heat several times during the flight but its effect had been difficult to assess. The pilot stated that he received no warning signs of the impending failure but admitted that, because he had been concentrating on the aircraft's handling characteristics and the engine had appeared to run quietly, he might have missed some indications such as carburettor icing. Subsequent ground running of the engine revealed no anomalies.