Event Overview
On 30 December 2000, a RANS S-14 AIRAILE ultralight aircraft, registration EC-YPD, crashed at the Cerval airstrip in the parish of S. Pedro da Torre, Valença, Portugal. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, the only occupant, died.
Flight History
The pilot, a 32-year-old Spanish male, took off from runway 34 at approximately 16:15 UTC for a local flight intended to evaluate the aircraft's condition and performance with a view to purchasing it. According to eyewitnesses, about 30 meters above ground, the engine failed. The pilot decided to execute a 180-degree turn to land on runway 16, as wind was calm. Due to the low altitude and reduced speed, the aircraft lost lift, stalled, and plunged onto the runway in a nose-down attitude.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft struck the ground nearly vertically and was destroyed. No third-party damage was reported.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a RANS S-14 AIRAILE, serial number 96063-1013, built in 1996 and assembled by the owner. It was equipped with a Rotax 503 engine (serial 4795749) and a two-blade wooden Aerobat propeller. The airframe and engine total flight hours were unknown; the last known engine inspection was on 4 February 1999 at 205:15 hours. No maintenance records existed after August 1999.
Investigation Findings
Investigators from INAC (Instituto Nacional de Aviação Civil) examined the wreckage, which had been moved to a hangar before their arrival. Notable findings included:
- The engine separated from the airframe due to support fractures on impact.
- One fuel system line was disconnected, with its clamp missing.
- The carburetor was separated from the engine due to a manifold fracture.
- The right fuel tank contained about two liters of gasoline, with no water traces; the left tank was empty.
- The engine was externally dirty and had several damaged components, including broken engine mount bars, damaged radiator mounts, missing exhaust silencer, missing carburetor air control lever, damaged manual starter drum, and damaged propeller.
Later, the engine was cleaned and bench-tested, showing no anomalies.
Meteorological and Aerodrome Information
No official weather observation was available, but witnesses reported good weather and light wind. The Cerval airstrip was not certified by INAC nor listed in the AIP Portugal, but was regularly used by ultralight, glider, and parachute aircraft and referenced in Jeppesen manuals and ultralight catalogs.
Autopsy and Survival
The autopsy report indicated internal hemorrhaging, multiple fractures to the thorax and lower limbs, and various lacerations and abrasions to the head, neck, torso, and limbs, which caused death. Survival chances were extremely limited given the impact conditions; death was instantaneous.
Conclusion
The accident resulted from an engine failure after takeoff, followed by a stall during an attempted return to the runway. The investigation did not identify a specific cause for the engine failure.