What happened
On 16 July 2000, a Tipsy Nipper T.66 RA45 Series 3, registration G-TEDZ, was conducting a private flight from Huddersfield Crosland Moor Airfield. Prior to departure, the pilot had performed engine maintenance, including replacing the oil filter and oil temperature sensor.
Shortly after takeoff, witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a higher speed than usual. Subsequent reports from onlookers indicated the engine began running roughly and misfiring. The engine eventually stopped entirely, and the aircraft performed a sharp left turn before descending steeply. The aircraft impacted the ground nose-first in an open field, causing the nose landing gear to collapse and the aircraft to flip onto its back. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine, finding no mechanical or electrical failures. While a small amount of PTFE tape was found partially obstructing a fuel selector port, testing confirmed it did not significantly restrict fuel flow. The engine was capable of producing sufficient power during static tests.
However, the investigation revealed a significant deviation from the aircraft's original design. The fuel selector was mounted in a position that was both out of the pilot's line of sight and physically difficult to reach while wearing a properly tightened shoulder harness. Furthermore, the aircraft featured a non-standard, unapproved air intake system, which the pilot had fabricated using a motorcycle air filter.
Findings
- The engine failure may have been caused by carburettor icing, a possibility increased by the unapproved air intake modification.
- There was a possibility that the engine lost power because the selected fuel tank had run dry; the pilot could not easily see or reach the fuel selector to verify the setting.
- The aircraft's fuel configuration was unusual, featuring multiple independent tanks that required active management by the pilot.
- The pilot's recent medical history had not been reported to the CAA, though no medical cause for the accident was found during the post-mortem.