Piper PA-28-235 EC-LDP Emergency Landing at Sabadell Airport

Incident Overview and Flight Details On Friday, July 2, 2010, at 10:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 aircraft with registration EC-LDP, operated by Aircambrils, experienced an emergency descent and landing at Sabadell Airport in Barcelona. The aircraft was equipped with a single Lycoming O-540-B4B5 engine. The flight was a local circuit around the aerodrome intended to renew the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. On board were the pilot in command and an inspector from the State Agency for Air Safety (AESA). ## Operational Context and Emergency Response The weather conditions were good, with light and variable winds of 2 to 4 knots, a temperature of 28 °C, and a relative humidity of 35%. The pilot reported taking off from runway 13 and climbing at a rate of 1,500 ft/min. During the maneuver, the pilot performed a no-engine stall approach at the inspector's request to check the stall warning system. The procedure involved setting the mixture to rich, activating the electric pump, and using the carburetor heat. After approximately five seconds, the pilot attempted to recover by applying power, but the engine failed to respond and stopped. ## Emergency Landing and Damage The pilot declared an engine failure and directed the aircraft toward a nearby field. Air traffic control authorized an immediate landing and provided wind information. The pilot headed toward runway 31, the closest available, reaching an indicated airspeed of 76 knots before the aircraft began to lose altitude. The pilot confirmed that no attempt was made to restart the engine due to a lack of time. The aircraft landed in a field east of runway 31, with its longitudinal axis oriented approximately 340° relative to magnetic north. ## Personnel and Aircraft Condition Both occupants, the pilot and the inspector, were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft under their own power. The pilot, a 35-year-old commercial pilot with 1,426 total flight hours and 276 hours on type, held a valid CPL(A) license. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its structure, including the lower fuselage, wings, and landing gear, as well as to the engine, from which components such as the carburetor detached. The investigation report was approved on June 9, 2011.