Flight History
On 23 February 2015, a Cessna 172 RG, registration EC-HYT, operated by GAIR, departed from Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport (LECU) for a dual instruction flight. The aircraft carried an instructor and a student. During the flight, the crew simulated an engine failure and conducted an approach to a field located between the municipalities of Villamanta and Villanueva de Perales, flying with a southerly heading and the landing gear extended.
Power Line Encounter
At an altitude of approximately 50 feet above ground, the crew observed a high-voltage power line running east-west directly ahead. The aircraft passed under the power line. While crossing, a high-intensity electric arc discharged, entering the left wingtip and exiting near the right main landing gear wheel well. The arc damaged the right main gear assembly.
Return and Emergency Landing
After the incident, the crew retracted the landing gear and returned to Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. During the approach, they declared an emergency and were authorized to fly between the control tower and Runway 10 so that tower personnel could visually inspect the right main gear. The tower reported that the gear leg was not in its normal position. The crew was cleared to land on Runway 28.
During the landing rollout, the aircraft veered to the right, contacting the right wingtip and right horizontal stabilizer with the runway surface. The aircraft rotated and came to a stop perpendicular to the runway. The two occupants evacuated the aircraft unaided and were uninjured.
Investigation Findings
The investigation concluded that the immediate cause of the accident was the landing with the right main gear not fully deployed, which had been damaged by the electric arc from the power line. The investigation also issued four safety recommendations to GAIR:
- Modify the Operations Manual to include simulated engine failure as a maneuver that can lose altitude in the standard flight profile.
- Include VFR flight altitude limits in the Operations Manual, not only IFR.
- Add clear information on emergency declaration procedures and standard phraseology.
- Ensure instructors precisely adhere to established altitude limits for training maneuvers.