Serious Incident Involving Yak-52TW LY-WAW at Bănești Flight Field

Occurrence Overview and Aircraft Details On 23 October 2014, a Yak-52TW aircraft registered LY-WAW, owned and operated by SC IACĂRII ACROBAŢI SRL, was involved in a serious incident at Bănești flight field in Prahova County, Romania. The aircraft, manufactured by Aerostar SA in 2005, was configured as a two-seat tandem trainer with a retractable landing gear and an M-14PF radial piston engine. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had accumulated 486 flight hours. ## Sequence of Events The pilot, a 47-year-old Romanian citizen with approximately 14,000 total flight hours, initiated a repositioning flight from Bănești to Băneasa Airport in Bucharest at 11:10 local time. During the flight, deteriorating weather conditions, including heavy rain and gusty winds, prompted the pilot to return to the departure airfield. Upon landing on runway 24, the aircraft experienced a hard touchdown on two points due to a tailwind in gusts. ## Forced Landing and Damage Believing the aircraft could not stop safely on the wet grass runway, the pilot attempted a go-around. However, the engine failed to provide adequate thrust, leading the pilot to execute a forced landing on unsettled land near the flight field. The aircraft landed with the landing gear retracted and came to rest after skidding for several tens of meters. The incident resulted in substantial damage, including destroyed propeller blades, a damaged engine lower cowl, and damage to the flaps and wing undersides. No injuries were reported, and no fire occurred. ## Investigation Findings The investigation determined that the cause of the incident was propeller damage sustained during the high-speed, rough landing. The commission noted that the pilot's decision to take off was erroneous given the weather conditions, but his actions following the propeller strike were timely and effective in preventing a more severe outcome. Meteorological data indicated overcast skies, winds of 10-15 m/s, and moderate rain showers at the time of the occurrence.