What happened
On 22 March 2003, a Ryan ST3KR, registration G-BYPY, was performing a private flight near Eddsfield, near Beverley. Following a routine takeoff from Runway 09, the aircraft was climbing through 300 feet when the engine began to lose power. Due to the lack of suitable into-wind fields within gliding distance, the pilot decided to execute an emergency landing on Runway 18.
While the pilot managed to maintain altitude during a left turn on the downwind leg, the engine lacked the necessary power to climb further. During the final approach, the pilot was looking toward the sun through hazy atmospheric conditions. Upon selecting full flaps, the propeller struck power lines that cross the approach path to the runway. The aircraft landed safely, though a subsequent inspection revealed that a two-inch section of each propeller blade tip had been lost.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form submitted by the pilot. The pilot confirmed that all standard pre-departure checks, including the operation of the carburettor heat control, had been performed. Initial examinations of the engine did not reveal any obvious mechanical faults. Further testing of the engine was planned following the manufacture of a replacement propeller.