What happened
On 13 February 2024, a Blackshape BK 160TR, registration I-POOC, departed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia, for a scheduled recreational flight. The aircraft, operated by Aviation Safety Technology Pte Ltd, was carrying two occupants: a pilot and a student passenger.
Shortly after departure, the aircraft proceeded toward the Kapar area. At approximately 13:35 LT, flight data indicated a sudden and rapid descent of 2,830 feet per minute, accompanied by an increase in airspeed. Minutes later, the aircraft impacted an oil palm plantation in Kampung Tok Muda. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
AAIB Malaysia reconstructed the flight path using ADS-B, radar, and onboard Garmin G3X flight display data. The investigation focused on the aircraft's structural integrity and the organizational circumstances surrounding its operation. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's flight history, which revealed several instances where the aircraft had been operated outside its approved flight envelope.
Technical testing conducted by SIRIM examined the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) components of the wreckage. Additionally, the investigation looked into the administrative complexities regarding the aircraft's ownership and maintenance accountability, noting disputes between the manufacturer and a third party, Sky Media, which had left the aircraft's official registration and maintenance responsibility in a state of uncertainty.
Findings
- Repeated operational exceedances caused fatigue and degradation in the aircraft's composite structural material.
- The aircraft's CFRP structure had been compromised by excessive loading during previous flights.
- Unresolved disputes regarding the transfer of ownership created significant gaps in accountability for the aircraft's ongoing maintenance and airworthiness monitoring.
- While operational stress was the primary driver of material degradation, the possibility of underlying manufacturing inconsistencies could not be entirely dismissed.