What happened
On May 17, 2013, a privately owned S10 Sakota (registration EC-YGJ) departed from Petra, Mallorca, as part of a formation flight with two other aircraft. The flight was intended for an aerobatic competition at Lleida-Algüaire airport. While cruising approximately 40 NM from the coast, the aircraft experienced an engine failure.
The pilot was forced to perform an emergency ditching in the Mediterranean Sea. Following the impact, the pilot successfully evacuated the aircraft and deployed a life raft that had been stowed on board. The aircraft subsequently sank. The pilot was located by search and rescue services and transported to a hospital in Tarragona, where they were treated and released without serious injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the effectiveness of the emergency response. Because the wreckage remained submerged, a physical inspection of the engine could not be conducted to identify the specific mechanical cause of the failure.
Investigators examined the pilot's experience, noting that the pilot was a highly trained individual with 2,000 total flight hours, including significant military helicopter experience. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history, noting that a functional ground test and a test flight had been completed successfully the day prior to the accident. The investigation also evaluated the coordination between the aircraft in formation, air traffic control, and the Search and Rescue (SAR) services.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an engine failure during the cruise phase of flight.
- The pilot's extensive aeronautical training and experience were critical in executing a controlled ditching without capsizing the aircraft.
- The presence of a following aircraft, which orbited the site to assist in locating the survivor, was a decisive factor in the rapid rescue.
- The immediate notification of the accident to air traffic control and the rapid activation of SAR missions ensured the pilot's timely recovery.
- The use of the onboard life raft was vital to the pilot's survival and well-being until rescue arrived.