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Mill Hill, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex -
United Kingdom
Phase:
Approach
Nature:
Training
Departure airport:
Shoreham Airport (ESH/EGKA)
Destination airport:
Shoreham Airport (ESH/EGKA)
Investigating agency:
AAIB
Confidence Rating:
Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative: The Reims-Cessna F152 sustained damage subsequent to a nose landing gear collapse during a forced landing to an open field at Mill Hill in Shoreham-by-sea, West Sussex, England. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured.
The pilot was carrying out circuit practice at Shoreham Airport using Runway 20. He had carried out four uneventful circuits with ‘touch-and-go’ landings, and then, while on late downwind the engine started 'coughing' and losing power. The pilot carried out some checks, but the engine subsequently lost all power. He picked a field and glided to it but touched down nosewheel first causing the nose landing gear leg to collapse.
The pilot had recently practised forced landings with an instructor and this likely contributed to the safe outcome. An aircraft examination did not reveal any faults, and the conditions were conducive to serious carburettor icing at any power, but the cause of the loss of power could not be determined.
The maintenance organisation’s engine and fuel system examinations did not reveal any faults, although the engine core had yet to be examined. The conditions were conducive to carburettor icing at any power, so this was a possible cause, but no conclusive cause could be determined.
Conclusion The engine lost power late downwind in the circuit. The maintenance organisation’s engine and fuel system examinations did not reveal any faults, although the engine core had yet to be examined. The conditions were conducive to carburettor icing at any power, so this was a possible cause, but no conclusive cause could be determined. The pilot had recently practised forced landings with an instructor and this likely contributed to the safe outcome.
Safety action by the flying school The flying school has updated its electronic booking system to show in red any pilot who is out of currency or not checked out when they try to book an aircraft. Pilots’ licence and rating validities are now checked by administrative staff and daily checks are carried out by a flight instructor.
A large emergency response has been spotted at the scene of an aircraft crash in #Shoreham. Emergency services were called to the incident earlier this afternoon in Mill Hill, roughly one and a half miles away from Shoreham Airport. Read more here: https://t.co/Qtg6kvQedmpic.twitter.com/NQT2GsMwcD