What happened
On 13 June 2022, a Diamond DA-40 aircraft, registration VT-FGC, was conducting a solo training circuit at Fursatganj Airfield when the engine failed. The aircraft, operated by M/s IGRUA, was under the command of a student pilot performing a scheduled landing exercise.
During the flight, the pilot was instructed by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to perform a go-around because another aircraft was lined up for takeoff. While flying the downwind leg of the circuit at approximately 1,400 feet, the pilot noticed a significant drop in engine RPM and noise. The student pilot immediately attempted to restart the engine using emergency checklists, but the engine failed to respond. After confirming the engine failure, the pilot identified a nearby open agricultural field, clear of high-tension wires, and performed a forced landing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including damage to the left wing, nose landing gear, and propeller blades, but the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
AAIB India investigators examined the wreckage and analyzed the flight sequence. The investigation focused on the engine's performance drop and the pilot's response to the emergency. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance logs, the student pilot's training progress, and the sequence of events leading from the ATC-mandated go-around to the engine's loss of power. The examination of the engine components revealed damage to the cylinder baffles, intake pipes, and the exhaust system.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an engine failure during the downwind leg of the circuit.
- The pilot successfully executed the emergency procedures and identified a suitable landing site.
- The aircraft sustained significant structural damage, including a broken nose landing gear strut and damage to the engine cowling and propeller.
- The engine RPM dropped to approximately 1050 rpm before the aircraft lost contact with ATC.