What happened
On 19 July 1998, a Stolp Starduster T00 SA300, registration G-UINN, departed Archerfield Airstrip in Lothian to perform an air display at the nearby East Fortune Airfield. During pre-flight inspections, the pilot confirmed the fuselage tank contained 12 imperial gallons of fuel, noting the upper wing centre tank was empty.
Following the completion of the display, the aircraft returned to Archerfield. While performing two successful missed approaches, the engine failed while the pilot was positioning downwind for a subsequent approach. Although the engine restarted once the aircraft was turned into the wind, the failure recurred despite the pilot having already engaged carburettor heat and verifying that the fuel and magnetos were in the correct positions. After a third engine cutout, the pilot declared a Mayday and selected a field for an emergency landing. During the landing flare, the engine briefly regained power, but the pilot closed the throttle to facilitate the landing. The aircraft entered a standing crop of barley and subsequently nosed over. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without no injuries, though the airframe sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine's intermittent operation. Post-accident inspections by fire services revealed that approximately 8 gallons of fuel had been drained from the aircraft. While a comprehensive inspection of the fuel system was deferred until the aircraft's reconstruction, the investigation reviewed the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident. The temperature was recorded at 12°C with a dew point of 13°C amidst light rain. According to standard icing charts, these specific atmospheric conditions are highly conducive to carburettor icing at any power setting.