What happened
On March 13, 2021, at 12:02 UTC, a Reims-Cessna F152, registration EC-DKN, operated by Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell, was performing an introductory flight at Sabadell Airport (LELL). The aircraft was occupied by a pilot and a passenger.
Following takeoff from runway 31, the aircraft began its initial climb. During this phase, the pilot reported that the elevator suddenly moved forward, causing the aircraft to transition into a sharp nose-down attitude. The pilot attempted to correct the pitch, but the controls were momentarily resistant. The aircraft impacted the runway centerline approximately 290 meters from the threshold, at an altitude of roughly 4 meters. The aircraft slid 75 meters toward the left edge of the runway, where the nose gear collapsed and fuel spilled from the tanks. Both occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the conflicting statements provided by the occupants. The investigation noted that the pilot had briefed the passenger before takeoff, explicitly instructing them not to touch the flight controls. To further mitigate risk, the pilot had also moved his seat as far back as possible to prevent the passenger from reaching the rudder pedals.
While the passenger provided a statement suggesting they may have moved the controls with excessive force due to a misunderstanding of instructions, the pilot's version of events regarding the exact nature of the control input remained contradictory to the passenger's account. The investigation used flight manual performance data to estimate that the aircraft's altitude during the incident did not exceed 4.4 meters, which aligned with the observed damage and the lack of serious injuries.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the action commanded by the passenger pushing the elevator control forward.
- The aircraft's controls showed no signs of mechanical malfunction prior to the event.
- There was a discrepancy between the instructor's and the passenger's accounts regarding the specific circumstances of the control input.
- The aircraft's performance during the takeoff roll was consistent with expected manual values for the given weight and environmental conditions.
Safety action
- REC 41/22: It is recommended that Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell reinforce the application of its established protocols among authorized pilots, specifically regarding the communication of required passenger attitude and attention during introductory flights.