What happened
On 15 October 2009, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-CYOT, was performing a private flight from Southery airstrip in Norfolk. The pilot had completed a 25-hour service at the airfield and intended to fly a passenger on a short local trip before returning to a base in Wiltshire.
Following standard pre-flight procedures, including fuel and magneto checks, the aircraft commenced its takeoff roll. The takeoff appeared normal, and the pilot rotated the aircraft at 45 knots. However, at an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 feet, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. As the airspeed decreased rapidly, the left wing dropped. To avoid crossing a nearby drainage fen, the pilot steered the aircraft toward a ploughed field adjacent to the runway edge and prepared for an immediate landing.
Upon impact, the aircraft struck the ground nosewheel first. This caused the nose landing gear to collapse. The left wingtip also made contact with the ground, resulting in a 180-degree ground loop. The aircraft came to a halt roughly 15 metres from the initial impact point. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and identified damage to the nose landing gear, one propeller blade, the left main landing gear, and the wingtips. Investigators discovered that the rubber tube used to mount the carburettor to the engine had sheared in two. The force of this detachment caused the engine cowling to strike the ground.
Further inspection of the carburettor heating system revealed that the engine uses hot oil to prevent icing. While this system is used on other models, G-CYOT lacked the additional support stay required to compensate for the extra weight of the apparatus. Additionally, a pre-existing split in the rubber tube was noted, which may have been exacerbated by the overtightening of a jubilee clip.