Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Bryan Allsop

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0185, written 18 Jun 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report18 Jun 2018
Reference2018-0185
DeceasedBryan Allsop
CoronerPeter Nieto
Coroner areaDerby and Derbyshire
CategoryOther related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT !S BEING SENT TO:

Baroness Sugg, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport,
Department for Transport.

CORONER

| am Peter Nieto Assistant Coroner for the Coroner area of Derby and Derbyshire.

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.
https:/Avww.legislation.gov. uk/ukpga/2009/25/contents

http://www. legisiation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/contents/made

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 13 May 2017 | commenced an investigation into the death of Mr Bryan Allsop (dob: 1
June 1937; dod: 28 May 2017). The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest (with
jury) on 6 June 2018. The conclusion of the inquest was: -

- Medical cause of death: -
1a Head and chest injuries.

- Summary of circumstances: -
Mr Allsop died on 28 May 2017 as a result of a crash of the light aircraft which he
was piloting. The severe injuries he sustained resulted in death very soon after
the crash and the crash occurred within a short time of take-off from his local
airstrip at Coal Aston in North Derbyshire.

- The jury’s conclusion at inquest was that the death was an accident, but that a
number of factors had been contributory.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mr Allsop had been conducting some short flights on the morning of 28 May 2017,
principally to test a device to prompt and remind with regards to deployment of the landing
gear. On the third take-off his plane failed to reach full power or to attain sufficient altitude
and in the course of turning back to the landing strip he lost control of the aircraft and
crashed into a nearby field. The jury found there to be four significant contributory factors
to the crash, which acted in combination: -

- The aircraft's fuel vapour return line was configured so that fuel vapour was routed
back to the engine rather than the fuel reserve tank to dissipate.

- Mr Allsop was using E5 Mogas but his plane had not had the necessary checks
and authorisation for this type of fuel.

- The warm weather conditions on the day, the series of short flights and the aircraft
engine running in between flights whilst not airborne, combined to make the
engine more susceptible to vapour production.

- On the third flight the engine did not reach full power and the aircraft could not
gain sufficient altitude making Mr Allsop’s attempted turn back to the airstrip likely
to end in a crash.

CORONER'S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed a matter giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. -

The inquest heard that Mr Allsop’s air crash occurred in the context of him attempting to
turn back to the airstrip to land but insufficient altitude and lack of engine power made a
crash whilst turning highly likely.

The court heard evidence that neither the pilot training leading to issue of a pilot's license
(for light aircraft) nor the biennial pilot license revalidation have mandatory requirements
for instruction and testing in partial loss of engine power scenarios. This is the case for
both EASA and non-EASA licences. The court also heard evidence that a significant
number of aircraft crashes and near crashes occur in the context of partial loss of engine
power scenarios. Reference was made to Australian research and also awareness of the
issue at the AAIB and the LAA. The court was informed that pilot licenses require
instruction and testing in full loss of engine power scenarios but that a partial loss of engine
power, particularly at low altitude, presents distinct and very difficult challenges to pilots.

My specific concern relates to there being no mandatory requirement for instruction and
testing in partial loss of engine power scenarios in relation to light aircraft pilots’ licences.
If this is also the case for more powerful classes of aircraft for license purposes this would
also be a concern.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you and your
department have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
which is by 13 August 2018. |, the Coroner, may extend the period,

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action, Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons: -

1.
2. Mr Stephen Slater, CEO, Light Aircraft Association.
3. a Inspector, Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

1am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a compiete or redacted or summary form.
He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of
interest. You may make representations to me, the Coroner, at the time of your response,
about the release € Publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

18

Peter Nieto Assistant Coroner

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