The accident involving a De Havilland Tiger Moth at Maryborough Airport on 27 January 2012 illustrates several of the points made in the ATSB’s Avoidable Accidents report Managing partial power loss after take-off in single engine aircraft (AR-2010-055).
In this instance, immediately after lift-off, the aircraft was observed to have a partial, intermittent power loss. The pilot continued the flight with the aircraft maintaining altitude or climbing slightly. At the upwind end of the runway, the aircraft made a climbing left turn before stalling and descending. The aircraft impacted the ground and the occupants died. The ATSB investigation found that the power loss was probably caused by a partial blockage of the aircraft’s fuel cock.
Pilots are reminded that continued power in such circumstances is unpredictable and the risk can be reduced by conducting a controlled landing at the earliest opportunity.
Read the final report: Collision with terrain - De Havilland DH-82A, VH-GVA, Maryborough Airport, Victoria, on 27 January 2012