What happened
On 20 July 2004, a Reims Cessna F1s0M, registration G-BGEA, was completing a local flight near Netherthorpe Airfield, Nottinghamshire. The aircraft was on its return leg, having flown for approximately 30 minutes, when the pilot began the approach for Runway 24. While at a circuit height of 800 feet, the pilot applied carburettor heat and configured the aircraft for landing by reducing power and deploying 20 degrees of flaps.
As the airspeed decreased, the pilot attempted to increase power to maintain 65 KIAS, but the engine failed to respond. Despite switching the carburettor heat to the cold setting and pumping the throttle, the engine power continued to decay. The pilot declared a MAYDAY and initially intended to reach the runway threshold; however, as the engine power dropped further and the propeller began windmilling, the pilot was forced to execute a landing in a field approximately 1,000 metres from the runway threshold.
The aircraft struck uneven ground, landing heavily on the left main landing gear, which buckled, followed by the failure of the nose gear. The impact caused extensive damage to the fuselage, propeller, and right wing. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden loss of engine performance. Due to the damage sustained to the propeller and carburettor, a full engine test could not be performed. However, manual inspections of the engine compressions during propeller pulls indicated that internal mechanical components appeared normal and showed no signs of internal failure.
Fuel levels were also examined; the aircraft had been refuelled with over 50 litres of AVGAS prior to the flight, leaving a sufficient reserve in the tanks at the time of the incident. The pilot noted that he had followed standard procedures regarding carburettor heat application during his downwind checks and the start of the descent.
Findings
- The engine experienced a sudden loss of power during the approach phase.
- The pilot's attempt to restore power by switching the carburettor heat to the cold setting may have been an error if the cause was carburettor induction icing.
- The aircraft landed on uneven terrain, leading to the structural failure of the landing gear and subsequent damage to the airframe.