Synopsis
On 19 January 2020, a Diamond DA20-A1 aircraft, registration EC-JLN, suffered an engine failure while on a private VFR flight between El Berriel Aerodrome (Gran Canaria) and La Gomera Airport, with a planned stop at Tenerife North Airport. The aircraft was flying over the sea north of the Gran Canaria coastline when the engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and performed a water landing in front of El Altillo beach. Both occupants, a pilot and a passenger, exited the aircraft and swam to shore, where they were assisted by bystanders. No injuries were reported.
Flight History
The aircraft departed El Berriel Aerodrome at approximately 09:18 h local time. After takeoff, it headed north to the coast and then turned west toward Tenerife. At an altitude of 3100 ft near Punta Guanarteme, the pilot contacted air traffic control, reporting low oil pressure and smoke in the cabin, and declared an emergency with the intention of diverting to Gran Canaria Airport. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported a complete engine failure. The aircraft subsequently landed on the water off El Altillo beach.
Injuries and Damage
According to the official report, there were no injuries to the two persons on board. The aircraft sustained damage consistent with a water landing. No other damage to property was reported.
Aircraft and Engine Information
The aircraft was a Diamond DA20-A1, registration EC-JLN, owned by Rosique Aircraft, S.L. and operated privately. It was leased by the two pilots, who were following a modular Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) course at a flying school (ATO). The aircraft was powered by a Rotax 912 engine. The technical logbook (TLB) documented previous maintenance and oil consumption issues.
Investigation
The investigation was conducted by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC). The investigation focused on the engine failure and the actions of the flight crew. It found that the engine failure resulted from insufficient lubrication of the connecting rod in cylinder no. 1. The investigation also identified a contributing factor: the oil-level verification procedure used by the ATO personnel operating the aircraft was deficient, leading to unreliable oil level readings.
Probable Cause
The CIAIAC determined that the accident occurred due to insufficient lubrication of the connecting rod in cylinder no. 1, which led to an in-flight engine failure and forced the crew to make an emergency landing on water.
Safety Recommendations
Following the investigation, the CIAIAC issued two safety recommendations:
- REC.28/21: Recommended that Canavia Lineas Aereas SLU review and amend its operational procedures to ensure all oil-level checks on Rotax 912 engines meet standards of uniformity and reliability.
- REC.29/21: Recommended that Diamond Aircraft review the aircraft flight manual to include all steps recommended by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG for engine oil-level checks.