What happened
On 12 June 2013, a UFM-10 Samba XLA, registration EI-XLA, was performing a cross-country flight from Birr Airfield toward Abbeyshrule. Shortly after departing Birr at approximately 15:20 UTC, the aircraft entered a left-hand climbing turn at an altitude of roughly 500 feet. During this maneuver, the aircraft began to exhibit an unstable descent. Witnesses observed the plane wobbling and dropping in altitude before it struck an electric utility pole and a tree. The impact caused the right wing to detach and the left wing to separate from the fuselage. The aircraft ultimately came to rest in a field at Crinkle, near Birrol, Co. Offaly. Despite the destruction of the aircraft, both the pilot and the passenger escaped with minor injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the wreckage, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed meteorological data. The investigation confirmed that the engine was still under power at the moment of impact. While the pilot was unable to provide specific airspeed readings during the event, the physical evidence and witness accounts suggested the aircraft was operating at a very low speed. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's GPS was not configured to record track data, which limited the ability to definitively analyze the flight path during the descent. The aircraft was found to be airworthy and within weight and balance limits prior to the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a sudden loss of lift at a low altitude, which may have been triggered by a downdraught outflow associated with approaching heavy rain cells.
- The pilot did not monitor the airspeed indicator during the critical phase of the flight.
- The low altitude at which the encounter occurred left insufficient margin for the crew to recover the aircraft.
- The presence of heavy, localized showers in the area likely contributed to the unstable atmospheric conditions encountered by the aircraft.