2024 Bristell RG accident in Moià, Barcelona (EC-XPE)

Overview and Accident Sequence On October 13, 2024, a Bristell RG aircraft with registration EC-XPE was involved in an accident near the Prat de la Plana airfield in Moià, Barcelona. The aircraft had taken off from the airfield at 10:27 local time. Approximately three minutes after departure, while at 3,000 feet, the cockpit carbon monoxide detector activated its acoustic alarm. The pilot also reported hearing an unusual engine noise. The pilot turned back to land on runway 01 and communicated the engine failure and intentions over radio. During the approach, the pilot noted the aircraft was descending and attempted to increase power, but discovered the throttle lever was loose and the engine did not respond to throttle inputs, although it did not stop. The aircraft collided with a group of trees near the runway threshold, causing the nose landing gear to catch, and the aircraft fell vertically to the ground. ## Aircraft and Personnel The Bristell RG EC-XPE was an amateur-built, single-engine aircraft with retractable landing gear. It was equipped with a 100 CV ROTAX 912IS engine. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had 644 flight hours. The pilot-in-command was a 61-year-old male holding a LAPL(A) license issued by the Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) and a valid medical certificate. He had a total of 734 flight hours. ## Damage and Injuries The aircraft sustained significant damage to the fuselage, wings, and engine. The right wing fractured at the root and the engine mount broke, separating both from the aircraft upon impact. The pilot suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for surgery. No other damage was reported. ## Probable Cause The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the loss of control of the aircraft during an emergency landing due to a power control failure, which led to a collision with trees during the approach to the airfield.