What happened
On August 27, 2011, an EOL ultralight aircraft was performing a navigation flight following a route through EPBY, Jaksice, and Domasławek. While transitioning through the "WHISKY" waypoint to exit the EPBY CTR, the pilot discovered that radio communication with the Bydgoszcz Tower had been lost.
To avoid the risks associated with operating within controlled airspace without radio contact, the pilot decided to proceed into uncontrolled Class G airspace, adhering to the previously filed flight plan. During this period, the pilot attempted to restore communication to notify the tower of the change in flight path. The pilot noted that other crews participating in the same navigation competition were following the same route and waypoints.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the communication failure. While attempting to troubleshoot the equipment and restore contact, the pilot identified that the power connector for the onboard portable radio station had become disconnected. The aircraft was south of the "KILO" waypoint when communication with the EPBY Tower was successfully re-established. After informing the tower of the cause of the outage, the pilot received authorization to re-enter the EPBY CTR and continue the mission. The flight concluded with a safe landing at the EPBY grass airfield.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the accidental disconnection of the power supply installation for the aircraft's portable ICOM radio station.
- The pilot's decision to exit the controlled airspace was a proactive measure to maintain safety in the absence of two-way communication.