What happened
On March 1, 2022, a pilot was conducting a flight for the purpose of building flight time. Following a standard pre-flight inspection performed alongside an instructor, the Tecnam P2008 JC, registration SP-LFD, departed normally. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot began experiencing tingling sensations in the left arm. This sensation intensified and spread to the other arm, eventually affecting the legs. As the pilot began to lose motor control over their limbs and experienced impaired perception, the decision was made to land immediately in an unprepared area. After notifying FIS Warszawa, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a cultivated field, coming to a stop several meters from a forest line. Shortly after the aircraft stopped, the pilot lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, the pilot was able to exit the aircraft and call for emergency services. Another aircraft operated by the same company, which was in the air at the time, assisted in locating the landing site and guiding rescue services to the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the circumstances surrounding the medical emergency and the subsequent landing. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid medical certificate and had no known health issues prior to the flight. The investigation also reviewed the operator's safety management processes, including the training of the pilot and the technical condition of the aircraft.
Findings
- The pilot sustained light injuries during the landing.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage.
- The primary cause of the event was a sudden deterioration in the pilot's health due to undetermined reasons.
Safety action
- The incident was recorded in the operator's SMS database and included in safety performance indicators (SPI).
- Flight training at the organization was temporarily suspended for 48 hours to investigate potential organizational factors; no such factors were found, and training was subsequently resumed.
- A Hazard Identification Group meeting was held, involving a professional psychologist and management, to disseminate information about the occurrence to all personnel.