What happened
On July 4, 2010, an Asso Champion V UL260i, registration OO-G08, was performing a training flight at the EBZH airfield. The flight was being conducted by a pilot accompanied by an instructor. Following a standard takeoff run with the flaps retracted, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 15 to 20 meters.
During the initial climb, the engine stopped abruptly while the aircraft was roughly two-thirds of the way down the runway length. Witnesses observed the aircraft leveling off and performing a series of turns before the left wing stalled. The aircraft subsequently struck an earth bank bordering the airfield, approximately 15 meters before the runway end. The impact caused a rapid fire that destroyed the airframe. The 2 fatalities occurred instantly upon impact.
The investigation
The AAIU(Be) examined the wreckage, the engine's electronic control unit (ECU), and the aircraft's technical documentation. The investigation focused on the sudden loss of power and the pilot's subsequent maneuvers. Investigators reviewed the engine's electrical system, specifically the ULPOWER engine's electronic injection and ignition management. The investigation also looked into the aircraft's weight and balance, as well as the ergonomics of the instrument panel during the landing gear retraction phase.
Findings
- The engine ceased operation abruptly during the takeoff phase.
- Following the loss of power, the pilot attempted to return to the airfield, which led to a wing stall and loss of control.
- An inadvertent switching OFF of an engine control switch (such as the Master or ECU switch) is the probable cause, as the pilot's reach for the landing gear switch likely caused accidental contact with critical engine switches.
- The aircraft may have been operating at or beyond its maximum takeoff weight, which would have increased the stall speed beyond the values defined in the flight manual.