Cyclone AX2000, G-MZER, 9 August 2013

Cyclone AX2000, G-MZER

Summary:

After takeoff, at a height of about 300 ft, the pilot sensed the engine rpm drop to around 4,000 to 4,500 from its normal maximum rpm of about 6,500. This was insufficient to maintain level flight and so the pilot turned into wind and chose a suitable field. As he approached the field, he realised that he was very close to a hedge which bordered it, so he tried to turn to the right to land parallel to the hedge. The aircraft stalled at a height of about 10 ft and the nose dropped to the left, hitting the ground and collapsing the nose landing gear.

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50© Crown copyright 2014 AAIB Bulletin: 1/2014 G-MZER EW/G2013/08/07 ACCIDENT Aircraft Type and Registration: Cyclone AX2000, G-MZER No & Type of Engines: 1 Rotax 582-48 piston engine Year of Manufacture: 1996 (Serial no: 7251) Date & Time (UTC): 9 August 2013 at 1750 hrs Location: South of Two Ash Farm, Chard, Somerset Type of Flight: Private Persons on Board: Crew - 1 Passengers - 1 Injuries: Crew - 1 (Minor) Passengers - None Nature of Damage: Extensive, to pod structure, wing and landing gear Commander’s Licence: National Private Pilot’s Licence Commander’s Age: 48 years Commander’s Flying Experience: 163 hours (of which 74 were on type) Last 90 days - 26 hours Last 28 days - 10 hours Information Source: Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot After takeoff, at a height of about 300 ft, the pilot sensed the engine rpm drop to around 4,000 to 4,500 from its normal maximum rpm of about 6,500. This was insufficient to maintain level flight and so the pilot turned into wind and chose a suitable field. As he approached the field, he realised that he was very close to a hedge which bordered it, so he tried to turn to the right to land parallel to the hedge. The aircraft stalled at a height of about 10 ft and the nose dropped to the left, hitting the ground and collapsing the nose landing gear. The pilot acknowledged that, in addition to the unfortunate timing of the engine power loss, he had allowed the aircraft to become slow, and he could have chosen a more suitable field to land in. Although he intends to do a thorough investigation of the engine and fuel system, at the time of preparation of this bulletin no obvious reason for the power reduction had been found.

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