What happened
On June 28, 2019, a group flight consisting of three aircraft was operating along the route from Mielec to Gliwice. Approximately eight minutes prior to the scheduled landing, the pilot of the AT-3R10/00, registration SP-EZH, reported an emergency landing due to issues with the engine control lever.
At 09:42 LMT, assisted by a second aircraft in the formation, the pilot successfully landed at an airfield in Świętochłowice. While the landing was completed, the aircraft sustained damage during the process. The crew sustained no injuries during the event, and because no other immediate hazards were identified, no additional emergency rescue services were required.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the engine control mechanism. The investigation established that the issue originated from the physical state of the engine control lever components prior to the flight.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause of the incident was improper aircraft handling, specifically the failure to secure the engine control lever pushrod. This lack of security allowed the end of the left pushrod to unscrew spontaneously, which subsequently caused the mechanism to jam.