What happened
On June 16, 2025, a two-person crew departed from Gliwice Trynek Airport (EPGL) in a Tercel gyrocopter, registration SP-XGLI, for a planned flight. Shortly after takeoff, while flying over Świętochłowice, the crew detected a strong smell of gasoline. The pilot in command took control and attempted to divert the aircraft to Katowice Muchowiec Airport (EPKM) after observing the fuel leak.
As the fuel loss intensified, the crew decided to perform an emergency landing in an open field while the engine was still running. However, during the final approach at approximately 30 meters AGL, the engine failed due to insufficient fuel pressure. The aircraft struck trees and crashed, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot in the left seat, while the pilot in the right seat escaped without injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken landing gear, destroyed rotor blades, and structural damage to the tail section.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the wreckage, analyzed flight data from the SkyDemon application, and reviewed maintenance records. Investigators found that a fuel leak was occurring under significant pressure from a line connected to the fuel pressure sensor (CCP).
Technical inspection revealed that the fuel line had been severed around its entire circumference underneath a worm-drive hose clamp. The investigation determined that the clamp had been tightened with excessive force, causing an internal nick on the thickened portion of the fitting. This mechanical weakness, combined with engine vibrations during flight, led to the complete severance of the line. Maintenance records showed that a fuel system modification had been performed on the aircraft just ten hours prior to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the fuel leak was the over-tightening of a worm-drive hose clamp, which caused the fuel line to fail under vibration.
- The engine failure during the landing approach was a direct result of the rapid fuel depletion caused by the leak.
- The crew's decision not to perform a precautionary landing immediately after detecting the fuel odor contributed to the severity of the event.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were within VMC and did not contribute to the occurrence.