What happened
On 9 May 1998, a Rans Microlight, registration G-MZIY, was conducting a private flight from Manchester (Barton) Airfield to a microlight strip at Otherton. The flight duration for the outbound leg was 70 minutes. During the return journey, the weather conditions were favorable, with a cloud base of 4,000 feet and an 8-knot wind from the west.
Approximately 57 minutes into the return leg, while two miles west of Barton Airfield, the engine ceased operation. The pilot, who was in radio contact with Barton, immediately turned the aircraft into the wind and notified the airfield of the intention to perform a forced landing. Unable to reach the primary intended landing site, the pilot selected an alternative field characterized by rougher, softer terrain. The aircraft touched down on its rear wheels, but upon contact with the soft soil, the nosewheel detached, causing the aircraft to overturn onto its back. The passenger sustained one minor injury, while the pilot was uninjured. The aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the engine failure and the pilot's fuel management. Before departing Otherton, the pilot had attempted to refuel but declined available fuel due to concerns regarding the oil ratio. The pilot had visually inspected the wing-root fuel tank and estimated it was more than half full, which, given a total capacity of 32 litres, should have allowed for a 2-hour and 40-minute flight duration.
While the pilot had confirmed fuel was present at the Thelwall Viaduct, 6 miles from Barton, the investigation examined whether the initial fuel assessment at Otherton was accurate. It was noted that the aircraft may not have been level during the initial visual check, potentially leading to an incorrect estimation of the remaining fuel volume.