What happened
On 29 August 1999, a Tiger Cub 440, registration G-MMIM, was performing a low-level pass over a field near Sarn, Powys, as part of a private flight. During this demonstration, the aircraft's Fuji-Robin EC-44-PM engine failed suddenly at an altitude approximately equal to the height of two houses.
In an attempt to avoid a nearby hedge, the pilot lowered the aircraft's nose and initiated a turn. At an altitude of roughly 30 feet, the aircraft entered a stall without prior warning and struck the ground in a nose-down attitude. The impact caused significant damage to the fuselage and cockpit structure. The pilot sustained serious injuries, specifically to his back, though he initially exited the wreckage without realizing the extent of his condition.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events following the engine failure and the subsequent aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft. The pilot noted that managing flight instruments while maintaining external visual lookout during the recovery maneuver proved difficult.
While the pilot had previously been trained to recover from stalls in this aircraft type, he indicated that the stall experienced during this incident was notably more abrupt and lacked the warning typically expected. It was noted that the engine failure likely contributed to the severity of the stall, as the loss of power would have significantly altered the aircraft's performance compared to standard training scenarios where power is simply reduced.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred without warning during a low-altitude pass.
- The aircraft entered a stall at approximately 30 feet during the maneuver to avoid an obstacle.
- The loss of engine power likely aggravated the stall characteristics.
- The cause of the engine failure remained undetermined at the time of the report.