What happened
Between June and September 2023, a series of three aviation incidents occurred during landing patterns at Arendal Airport Gullknapp (ENGK). These incidents involved training aircraft from OSM Aviation Academy (OSMAA) and required evasive maneuvers to prevent more serious collisions.
In one notable event on September 13, 2023, a JMB Aircraft VL-3 Evolution (registration LN-YBV) entered the traffic pattern for runway 23. The pilot of the VL-3 Evolution believed they had successfully broadcasted their intentions on the airport traffic frequency; however, the transmission was not heard by other aircraft. This led to a conflict with a Cessna 172 (registration SE-LZO) operated by OSMAA. The student pilot in the Cessna 172 was forced to perform a go-around after suddenly encountering the VL-3 Evolution on final approach.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the underlying safety framework at the airport. The investigation focused on the period between 2018 and 2023, noting that while the flight school's operations had expanded significantly, the airport's Air Traffic Services (AFIS) had been discontinued in 2021 due to economic reasons.
Investigators reviewed license amendments, noise analyses, and communications between the airport, the flight school, and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. The inquiry also looked into the technical failures during the September incident, including a damaged headset plug in the LN-YBV and the fact that the ground operations instructor was unable to monitor multiple radio frequencies simultaneously due to equipment failure.