What happened
On December 13, 2003, at approximately 16:30 UTC, a Daxiwings Falcon XP B2 ultralight aircraft, registration CS-UKI, was performing a local training flight from Viseu Aerodrome. Shortly after departing from runway 19, while at an altitude of approximately 30 meters, the engine suffered a sudden and complete failure.
Due to the low altitude and the limited remaining runway length, the pilot was unable to return to the paved surface. The pilot attempted to glide toward a nearby meadow situated along a watercourse, but the aircraft struck the ground prematurely in a field planted with small eucalyptus trees, roughly 1,50 and meters south of the threshold of runway 01. The impact caused significant damage to the cockpit structure, the landing gear, the canard, and the right wing, but the pilot, who was the sole occupant, escaped without injury.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the mechanical state of the engine and the maintenance history of the aircraft. Investigators examined the wreckage at the Viseu Aero Club hangar. The examination of the Rotax 582 engine revealed that the cylinder adjacent to the propeller speed reduction unit had seized.
Further scrutiny of the aircraft's documentation revealed a lack of formal maintenance records. The engine logbook had not been updated and was only completed after the fact based on the pilot's memory and flight logs. Additionally, investigators found evidence of the use of non-original and non-certified components, particularly regarding the engine block and cylinder head gaskets. The investigation also noted that the pilot's flight experience was limited and irregular, with a significant gap in recorded flight activity prior to the accident.