What happened
On August 6, 2010, at 10:35 UTC, a RANS S-14 ultralight aircraft, registered EC-YVK, departed from runway 17 at the Mirandela Municipal Aerodrome (Limandela) for a flight to Viseu. The aircraft was participating in the "Iberian air tour" and had previously landed at the airfield for refueling.
During the takeoff roll, eyewitnesses noted that the aircraft required more runway than usual. After liftoff, the aircraft achieved a sharp climb, reaching an altitude of approximately 200 feet. At this altitude, the aircraft unexpectedly entered a right-hand turn with a bank angle of approximately 45 degrees. This maneuver led to a descent that the pilot could not recover from, resulting in a ground collision 150 meters west of the end of runway 17. The impact destroyed the aircraft and caused serious injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's experience, and the environmental conditions. The investigation found that the aircraft was registered in Spain and was not operating under Portuguese ANAC standards. The pilot held a valid Spanish license but had limited experience flying this specific aircraft type.
Investigators analyzed the performance of the Rotax 503 engine, noting that air-cooled engines can experience degraded performance and sluggish response on hot days. The investigation also reviewed the flight dynamics, specifically how the aircraft's peculiar handling characteristics interacted with the pilot's maneuvers.