What happened
On 11 November 2012, a Reims-Cessna F150H, registration EI-AST, was conducting flight instruction at Birr Airfield, Co. Offaly. The aircraft had completed several previous flights that day, including three training sessions with an instructor and various students. Following a refueling session earlier in the afternoon, the aircraft engaged in a circuit training session with a student pilot.
After performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 18, the aircraft began its climb. During this ascent, witnesses observed the engine stop. The aircraft then entered a steep left-hand descending turn before disappearing from sight. The impact occurred approximately 350 metres southeast of the runway end.
The investigation
Emergency responders faced difficulties locating the wreckage due to the approaching darkness and the black paint of the aircraft. The site was eventually identified by a Garda helicopter using thermal imaging. Upon arrival, investigators found that the aircraft had struck the ground with a heavy, nose-down attitude while the wings were relatively level. The impact caused the nose landing gear to detach, and the aircraft came to rest in an inverted position.
Physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the cabin had been crushed and the fuselage was fractured behind the cabin area. The engine bearer arm structure showed several fractures, and one propeller blade was bent backwards, though there was no evidence of propeller rotation at the moment of impact. No significant fuel deposits were found at the crash site.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing general aviation flight instruction.
- Witnesses reported hearing the engine stop during the climb-out phase.
- The aircraft entered a steep descending turn immediately following the engine failure.
- There was no evidence of any technical defect identified during the initial examination of the aircraft or engine.