What happened
On March 13, 2007, at Oehna airfield, a flight demonstration was being conducted for a prospective buyer of an amateur-built Trener Baby. The flight involved two pilots: an instructor with extensive military and flight training experience and a trainee. During the session, five flights were performed, with the occupants swapping seat positions after the third takeoff.
During the fifth flight, while performing a circuit, the aircraft's engine failed during the fourth turn. Following the loss of power, the aircraft descended too low to clear a power line running perpendicular to the approach path. Shortly before reaching the line, the aircraft turned abruptly to the left and impacted the ground with a high longitudinal pitch. The impact destroyed the aircraft and left two persons seriously injured.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage of the Trener Baby and the surrounding area. The investigation focused on the aircraft's mechanical condition, the flight path, and the environmental conditions. The aircraft, an experimental VLA-type, had a total operating time of 38:51 hours.
At the crash site, located approximately 700 meters before the threshold of runway 26, the investigators found that the impact had been nearly vertical. The engine was torn from the fuselage, the cockpit area was destroyed, and the wing structure was heavily damaged. The fuel tanks within the wings ruptured upon impact. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history and fuel levels, noting that the engine had been fueled several days prior to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an engine failure during the circuit pattern.
- The loss of power resulted in an insufficient altitude to clear an obstacle (a power line) located near the airfield.
- Examination of the wreckage revealed no technical defects in the aircraft's components or flight controls.
- No fuel was found in the fuel pump or associated lines during the inspection.