What happened
On 1 June 2002, a Starstreak Shadow SA-II, registration G-BXXZ, was conducting a private flight near Rhos Hirwavn, Llyn Peninsula. Following a flight from Mona and a subsequent stop at Port Awyr, the pilot and one passenger prepared for a second departure. After completing standard pre-flight inspections, engine warm-up, and run-up checks, the aircraft taxied to the north end of the grass airstrip.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft climbed at approximately 7/0 knots. However, at an altitude of roughly 400ft AGL, the engine stopped abruptly. The pilot, facing a large pine forest ahead, maneuvered the aircraft toward a nearby field of newly sown crops. While attempting the emergency landing, the aircraft's landing gear sank into the soft soil, causing the wingtips and propeller to strike the ground. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden loss of power and the subsequent impact. The pilot initially suggested that the engine may have suffered a 'cold seizure'—a condition where differential thermal expansion between the piston and cylinder causes mechanical interference. The pilot maintained that all necessary engine warm-up procedures had been performed correctly prior to departure.
However, technical examination of the engine by a repair agent provided a different conclusion. The inspection revealed very little internal evidence to support the theory of a cold seizure.