What happened
On October 23, 2014, a Yak-52TW aircraft, registration LY-WAW, was performing a repositioning flight from Bănești flight field to Băneasa Airport in Bucharest. During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by heavy rain and strong wind gusts. Due to these conditions, the pilot decided to return to the departure airfield for an immediate landing.
While landing on runway 24, the aircraft experienced a hard two-point touchdown caused by a significant tailwind. Because of the high speed and the wet, grassy surface of the runway, the pilot determined there was insufficient distance to stop and attempted a go-around. However, during the initial climb, the engine failed to provide necessary thrust. To avoid obstacles such as buildings and electric lines, the pilot executed a right turn and performed a forced landing on unsettled ground near the airfield.
The pilot performed the maneuver with the landing gear in the retracted position, following manufacturer instructions for landing on unknown terrain. The aircraft came to a stop after skidding several dozen meters. While there were no injuries to the pilot, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including destroyed propeller blades, damage to the engine lower cowl, and damage to the flaps and underside of the wings.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the meteorological conditions, and the physical evidence at the site. Investigators found fragments of the propeller blades and helical cutting marks on the grass, confirming that the propeller had struck the ground during the landing phase. Analysis of fuel and oil samples showed normal gasoline quality, though engine oil showed signs of usage wear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was damage to the propeller blades resulting from a rough touchdown at high speed on a runway surface that could no longer safely stop the aircraft.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to initiate the takeoff/go-around without an accurate assessment of the rapidly evolving meteorological conditions at the airfield.