What happened
On September 30, 2009, at approximately 16:30 local time, YR-5128, a Flight Design CTSW 2006/CLASSIC aircraft operated by S.C. Ceradent S.R.L., was conducting a private flight between Luncani and Budurleni in Bistrița-Năsăud County, Romania. The aircraft was airborne with the pilot and one passenger on board.
After approximately 40 minutes of flight, while turning back toward Luncani near the village of Brăteni, military air traffic control informed the pilot of priority traffic at the same altitude (2,000 ft). To avoid conflict, the pilot descended to 1,000 ft and entered a holding pattern over Brăteni. During the subsequent climb out from the hold, the engine began vibrating, lost power, and then stopped.
The pilot attempted an in-flight restart without success. Recognizing the terrain was hilly and unsuitable for a forced landing, the pilot selected a lake on the outskirts of Brăteni as the emergency landing site. Having already passed the lake, the pilot executed a turn to align with a road along the shoreline. Flaps were extended to 15 degrees and speed reduced to 90 km/h. As the aircraft approached the ground, the pilot realized the road's gradient was too steep for a safe stop on land. Consequently, a 30-degree correction was made to aim for the shallow end of the lake. The aircraft landed hard on the water but did not capsize. Both occupants exited the aircraft under their own power and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The CIAS (Romanian Aviation Accident Investigation Authority) recovered the wreck, which had been submerged with the engine underwater for over 24 hours. Due to water contamination, it was impossible to determine the definitive mechanical cause of the engine stoppage. However, inspection of the cockpit revealed the master switch was in the OFF position, the throttle was at full power, and the propeller pitch was at low RPM.
The investigation noted that the aircraft's identification certificate annex had expired on July 11, 2009, classifying the aircraft as unapproved (neomologată). Regulations for such aircraft prohibit carrying passengers. Additionally, the emergency parachute system was found secured and not prepared for use, contrary to pre-flight checklist requirements.
Findings
The investigation established the following factors:
- Engine Failure: The symptoms described by the pilot (vibration followed by power loss) were consistent with carburetor icing. However, the exact cause could not be confirmed due to water damage.
- Incorrect Restart Procedure: The throttle position at full power during an attempted restart was inconsistent with standard procedures for a Rotax 912 ULS engine, which typically requires idle for restart attempts or specific starter activation.
- Regulatory Violations: The aircraft was operating without a valid identification annex and was carrying a passenger, both prohibited for unapproved ultra-light aircraft at the time.
- Decision Making: The pilot selected a landing site (the lake) that had already been passed, requiring a steep descent and significant speed reduction. The initial choice of a road with an unsuitable gradient contributed to the need for the final water landing correction.
Safety action
The investigation commission issued no safety recommendations following this event.