What happened
On April 26, 2009, an ultralight aircraft, a Helff GmbH Albatros, departed from the Dankern/Haren airfield for a local flight. The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, had performed a ground run prior to takeoff and reported no engine irregularities. Shortly after departure from runway 28, the aircraft began a climb with an initial rate of approximately 2 m/s.
At an altitude between 150 and 180 feet, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power, noting that the engine RPM dropped from 6,000 to 4,000. In an attempt to avoid a forced landing in the trees, the pilot initiated a left turn toward a nearby field. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the treetops of a treeline located approximately 400 meters beyond the runway extension. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into a meadow near a farm, resulting in two serious injuries to the pilot and passenger. The aircraft was destroyed, and damage to property on the ground was reported.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's experience, and the maintenance records. The investigation found that the engine, a Rotax 462, showed no evidence of technical failure, and witnesses did not report unusual engine noises. While the BFU could not definitively rule out a momentary power loss, the engine was functional at the time of the crash.
Discrepancies were noted in the aircraft's documentation. The weight and balance report from the previous annual inspection was incomplete due to missing entries in the equipment list. Additionally, the investigation found that the aircraft's instrument markings did not comply with required airworthiness directives, and the inspection certificate had been issued despite these non-conformities.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with an obstacle during the climb.
- The pilot's failure to execute a timely emergency landing contributed to the accident; suitable landing fields were available both before and after the treeline that could have been reached without a significant change in direction.
- The pilot had limited recent experience, as his last flights had occurred in 2008 in a different aircraft type, and this was his first flight in the Albatros this year.