What happened
On May 2, 2003, a Cessna 150 L, registration EC-HKE, departed from the Casarrubios del Monte Aerodrome for a private recreational flight around the Community of Madrid. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the flight, the aircraft experienced a loss of power which resulted in the engine stopping.
Due to the loss of power, the pilot performed an emergency landing in an unprepared field located in the municipality of Tielmes, between Tielmes and Carabaña. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to overturn. Both occupants of the aircraft were able to exit the wreckage on their own and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was initiated following a report from the Civil Guard Helicopter Group on June 1, 2004, which noted the presence of an overturned aircraft in a field south of Torrejón de Ardoz. It was noted that the accident had occurred nearly a year prior, and no initial communication regarding the event had been made to the CIAIAC by the operator or judicial authorities.
Investigators found that because the wreckage had remained abandoned and unprotected for approximately one year, it had been subjected to environmental degradation and the removal of various components by third parties. This lack of preservation made it impossible to conduct a detailed technical examination of the engine components to determine the specific reason for the power loss.