What happened
On August 13, 2016, at approximately 16:30 local time, a pilot initiated a takeoff from a landing strip located approximately 150 meters south of the runway in Osiek, Poland. The flight was planned to proceed from Osiek to the Toruń Aero Club airfield (EPTO). The takeoff proceeded normally until the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 300 ft AGL.
After roughly two minutes of operation at takeoff power, the pilot experienced a significant loss of engine power. To avoid obstacles, the pilot executed an emergency landing via autorotation, altering the flight path approximately 40 degrees to the left of the original takeoff heading. The Xenon 2 RST landed in a cornfield at the edge of a meadow with minimal forward speed. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden loss of engine performance during the climb phase. Following the incident, the aircraft was moved to a hangar in Osiek. Local police conducted a breathalyzer test on the pilot, which returned a negative result for alcohol. The pilot was found to be fully qualified, with 1,280 flight hours logged on this specific aircraft type.
Post-incident inspections of the aircraft revealed minor damage, including a slight bend in the landing gear and a cracked landing light cover. The engine was subsequently sent to the manufacturer for a detailed examination. During testing, the engine operated normally without any detectable malfunctions, and the manufacturer issued a certificate of airworthiness for its continued use.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a significant loss of engine power during the climb.
- The manufacturer was unable to determine the specific cause of the power loss, as the engine functioned correctly during subsequent testing.
- Meteorological conditions were clear with no cloud cover and winds from 270 degrees at 3–5 m/s; weather conditions did not contribute to the event.