What happened
On June 21, 2001, a ROBIN HR-200-120B, registration EC-FTY, was conducting a recreational flight along the Spanish coast. After departing from Sabadell Airport, the aircraft followed the coastline toward the northeast. While flying near the Boadella cove, between Blanes and Lloret de Mar, the aircraft impacted the sea.
The pilot and one passenger managed to exit the aircraft and were rescued by local jet skiers and a nearby boat. Both occupants sustained two minor injuries. The aircraft sank to a depth of approximately three meters and was recovered the following day.
The investigation
Investigators analyzed radar tracks and the physical condition of the wreckage to reconstruct the flight path. While the pilot stated that the engine had failed at 2,500 feet, radar data revealed that the aircraft had actually been flying at very low altitudes—between 200 and 500 feet—for approximately nine minutes prior to the impact.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the propeller damage. The minimal damage observed suggested that the propeller was still rotating upon impact, contradicting the pilot's claim that the engine had stopped. The investigation also noted that the pilot's claim of hearing a stall warning while the battery and magnetos were turned off was physically impossible, as the warning system would have lacked electrical power.