Engine Failure Leads to Severe Damage During Emergency Landing in Poland

Casualties unknown • Ustarbowo / Wejherowo, PL

An engine failure during a flight near Ustarbowo resulted in a heavy emergency landing, causing extensive damage to a TL-3000 Sirius, though no injuries were reported.

What happened

On November 11, 2022, a pilot operating a TL-300 and registration OK UUA 92 conducted a series of flights from an unregistered airfield near Wejherowa. During the first two flights of the day, the pilot observed rapidly increasing engine coolant temperatures exceeding permissible limits, which necessitated immediate landings. Despite these warnings, the pilot proceeded with a third flight carrying a passenger.

During this third flight, the engine control unit (ECU) issued several warnings as coolant temperatures rose again. Approximately two and a half minutes after takeoff, the engine power began to fluctuate and eventually failed entirely at an altitude of approximately 30 meters. The pilot attempted to return to the airfield but transitioned to an emergency landing in a nearby agricultural field. The aircraft touched down with significant side-slip and excessive vertical and forward speed during a turn, encountering a quartering tailwind. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse and the engine to strike the ground, while the left wingtip also made contact with the earth. The aircraft sustained severe damage, including the separation of both wings from their mounts and structural damage to the cockpit.

The investigation

The PKBWL investigation examined the flight data recorded by the Garmin G3X system, the engine's ECU, and the physical state of the aircraft. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's flight path, the engine's performance parameters (RPM, fuel pressure, and oil pressure), and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions during the engine failure and the subsequent emergency landing procedure.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the accident was an **engine failure in flight**. The accident was further caused by an improperly executed emergency landing characterized by excessive touchdown speed, high vertical descent rate, and significant side-slip.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-11-11 TL-3000 Sirius accident near Ustarbowo / Wejherowo, PL?

An engine failure during a flight near Ustarbowo resulted in a heavy emergency landing, causing extensive damage to a TL-3000 Sirius, though no injuries were reported.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-11-11 involved a TL-3000 Sirius, registration OK-UUA 92, operated by Prywatny, at Ustarbowo / Wejherowo, PL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the accident was an **engine failure in flight**. The accident was further caused by an improperly executed emergency landing characterized by excessive touchdown speed, high vertical descent rate, and significant side-slip.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2022-6569/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.

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