What happened
On July 17, 2010, a CS-AGZ, a single-engine aircraft operated by SkyZone, was performing an advertising banner tow flight near Ponta da Piedade, Portimão. During the operation, the aircraft's engine began to fail. In response to the power loss, the pilot successfully released the advertising banner and identified a suitable area of terrain to perform an emergency landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear and the propeller blades.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the engine failure and the subsequent impact with the ground. The investigation established that the pilot managed to disconnect the tow load before the landing attempt, which was a critical step in managing the emergency. The physical inspection of the aircraft confirmed damage to the nose landing gear and the propeller.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an engine failure during the banner towing operation.
- The pilot's decision to release the banner allowed for a controlled, albeit emergency, landing.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear and propeller blades due to the nature of the landing on the chosen terrain.