What happened
On May 1, 1999, a Wassmer WA 54 Atlantic departed from runway 25 at Schönhagen for a local flight. Approximately 900 meters after the start of the takeoff roll, the engine failed while the aircraft was at an altitude of roughly 50 meters.
In an attempt to avoid trees located beyond the runway end, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft's airspeed dropped below the stall speed, causing it to enter a stalled state and bank sharply to the right. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 12 and 125 meters to the right of the runway end. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire and be destroyed by the flames. Both occupants managed to escape the wreckage before the fire took hold, but both sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The BFU investigation included an on-site examination and a technical review of the aircraft's maintenance history conducted by an aviation technician. The investigation established that the aircraft was properly registered and maintained, with the takeoff weight and center of gravity within permissible limits.
Records indicated that the engine had been operating for 277 hours since its last overhaul. Although the fuel system had been cleaned and the electric fuel pump replaced during an annual inspection the previous October, the investigation could not determine the specific cause of the engine failure due to the extensive damage caused by the post-crash fire.
Findings
- The pilot was facing an emergency situation following the engine failure.
- While attempting to maneuver the aircraft away from trees, the pilot failed to maintain the minimum stall speed.
- The aircraft entered an accelerated stall during a high-bank turn, leading to the impact with the ground.