What happened
On September 15, 2020, at approximately 17:30 local time, an Aeroprakt A 22L, registration SP-SIBG, arrived at the Goczałkowice-Zdrój landing field for a recreational flight. After completing engine tests and preparing the aircraft, the pilot lined up on runway 26 and began the takeoff roll.
As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 80 km/h, the pilot attempted to rotate the aircraft for takeoff but realized that the control column was blocked. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff by reducing engine power to idle and applying heavy braking. Despite these efforts, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently and exited the runway, eventually colliding with a fence located at the end of the runway extension.
Following the impact, the pilot successfully shut down the master switch and fuel valve before exiting the cabin unharmed. Upon inspection, the pilot discovered that the elevator control lock pin had not been removed.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's condition and the pilot's pre-flight procedures. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken nose gear strut, a broken propeller blade, damage to the left wing, and damage to the engine cowling. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot was wearing seatbelts and that the aircraft's documentation and insurance were valid. The pilot admitted that the pre-flight checklist was not performed after entering the cockpit and before entering the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error resulting from the failure to perform the required checklists before flight and prior to takeoff.
- The physical cause of the blocked controls was the presence of the elevator control lock pin.