What happened
On October 15, 2017, at 12:40 local time, a CASA 1131-E, registration EC-FUU, was involved in an accident at Sabadell Airport (Barcelona) during an airshow. The aircraft, operated by Fundació Parc Aeronàutic de Catalunya, had completed five low passes as part of the scheduled exhibition. Following the maneuvers, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 13 with a 3-knot tailwind component.
After a successful three-point landing, the pilot proceeded to taxi toward the right-hand rapid exit taxiway. As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 30 km/h, roughly 40 meters from the exit, the pilot applied the right rudder pedal to initiate the turn. At that moment, the aircraft lost control and entered a sharp right-hand spin. The aircraft continued to rotate until it came to a stop on the runway, having completed a 180-degree turn. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse and resulted in damage to the propeller and both wings.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's statements, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the event. Post-accident inspections confirmed that all flight controls were functional and that there was no blockage in the tailwheel mechanism. The tailwheel was found to be in the fixed-wheel position, allowing for steering via the pedals. The investigation also verified that the pilot's documentation and the aircraft's airworthiness certificate were valid.
Investigators analyzed the pilot's account, noting that the rudder pedals felt "nervous" just before the loss of control. The investigation also considered the weather, which included moderate winds and intermittent gusts. No mechanical failures were identified in the control cables or the tailwheel assembly.