What happened
On April 19, 2021, a Diamond DA20-C1, registration EC-LAO, departed Reus Airport for a solo training flight. The aircraft was being operated by a student pilot as part of an integrated ATP course. While cruising at approximately 2,000 feet, the aircraft experienced an engine failure.
Following the failure, the pilot declared a Mayday and began an emergency descent. During the approach to a selected landing site, the pilot discovered a power line that obstructed the intended path. In an attempt to avoid the obstacle, the pilot executed an extremely tight 180-degree turn at a very low altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft's speed dropped to approximately 110 km/t, bringing it close to a stall. The aircraft subsequently landed in a vineyard near Sant Jaume dels Domenys. The impact caused significant damage to the landing gear, propeller, and the forward section of the fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical cause of the engine failure and the pilot's management of the emergency. Investigators determined that the engine failure was caused by the detachment of an exhaust valve rocker arm in cylinder number four.
Technical analysis of the flight path revealed that the pilot misidentified the nature of the engine fault, incorrectly believing the engine had stopped completely. This led to the pilot manually shutting down the engine. Furthermore, the investigation examined the pilot's decision-making regarding the landing site and the high-risk maneuver performed at low altitude to avoid power lines.