Engine failure during tailwheel training leads to aircraft breakup near Borken

Casualties unknown • nahe Borken, DE

A PZL-106 A agricultural aircraft sustained heavy damage after an engine failure and subsequent emergency landing during a tailwheel training flight.

What happened

On March 11, 2011, a PZL-106 A agricultural aircraft departed from the Borken-Hoxfeld (EDLY) special landing field for a training flight focused on tailwheel aircraft procedures. The flight involved a pilot instructor in the front seat and a trainee in the rear seat. During the flight, the instructor instructed the trainee to adjust the oil cooler lever from its forward position to a halfway retracted position. The trainee complied with the instruction.

Shortly thereafter, the instructor noticed a drop in fuel pressure. In response, the instructor directed the trainee to activate the electric fuel pump and switch the fuel selector to the alternative tank. Following these actions, the engine failed and could not be restarted. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field approximately 3.5 km south of the airfield. Upon touchdown on the loose, moist soil, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then struck the ground with the left wing, causing a 180-degree leftward rotation and a structural failure of the fuselage.

The investigation

The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's configuration and the cockpit environment. The aircraft, a two-seat version of the PZL-106 A, featured a cockpit design where the front seat lacked several instruments and controls present in the rear seat. Consequently, the instructor could only monitor the trainee's actions via the onboard intercom, as direct visual observation of the trainee's hand movements was impossible. The investigation also noted that the engine controls were color-coded and shaped differently to assist identification: the oil cooler lever featured a red, cube-shaped top, while the fuel shut-off valve handle was round and red.

Findings

  • The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a broken fuselage behind the cockpit, a detached tailwheel, and a deformed left wing.
  • There were no fatalities or injuries during the accident.
  • The engine failure was preceded by a drop in fuel pressure following the adjustment of the oil cooler lever.
  • The inability to visually monitor the trainee's control inputs due to the cockpit configuration contributed to the sequence of events.

Probable cause

The engine failure and subsequent loss of control were triggered by fuel pressure fluctuations following a control adjustment, exacerbated by the instructor's inability to visually verify the trainee's manual actions in the cockpit.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2011-03-11 Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze PZL-106 A accident near nahe Borken, DE?

A PZL-106 A agricultural aircraft sustained heavy damage after an engine failure and subsequent emergency landing during a tailwheel training flight.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2011-03-11 involved a Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze PZL-106 A, at nahe Borken, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine failure and subsequent loss of control were triggered by fuel pressure fluctuations following a control adjustment, exacerbated by the instructor's inability to visually verify the trainee's manual actions in the cockpit.

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