What happened
On April 28, 2009, a Cessna 421C departed Hamburg Airport on a private VFR flight bound for Leipzig-Altenburg. The aircraft was operated by a single pilot. Shortly after exiting the Hamburg control zone, the pilot engaged the autopilot and discovered that the aircraft's electrical system was malfunctioning.
In an attempt to rectify the issue, the pilot decided to return to Hamburg. During the approach, the pilot operated the landing gear lever, but the cockpit indicators failed to show the gear's status. Subsequently, the aircraft suffered a total electrical failure, resulting in the loss of all electrical components, including all radio communications. Faced with the loss of essential systems, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a bay of the Elbe near Finkenwerder. During the landing sequence, the aircraft capsized in the water.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage located approximately 50 meters from the shore in the Mühlenberger Loch, a bay of the Elver. At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing high tide, with a water depth of approximately 0.8 meters. The aircraft was found upside down, partially embedded in a thick layer of silt.
Investigators noted that the nose of the fuselage had broken off and the nose gear had been torn away, while the main landing gear remained extended and locked. The investigation included a review of the aircraft's electrical components, including alternators, switches, and circuit breakers. No mechanical damage was found on the alternator connections or couplings, and the relevant fuses remained intact. The pilot's medical history and flight experience were also reviewed; the pilot held a valid PPL(A) and a Class 2 medical certificate, and there were no signs of physiological impairment at the time of the accident.