What happened
On April 30, 2012, an Extra 300 L departed from the Hahnweide airfield for a local flight pattern. The flight was being operated by a pilot sitting in the rear seat, marking his first flight in the rear position of this specific aircraft type. A second experienced pilot was seated in the front seat.
During the flight, the pilot in the rear seat attempted to manage engine parameters, specifically switching fuel tanks and adjusting the propeller governor. Shortly after reducing engine RPM, the engine began to sputter at an altitude of approximately 150 to 200 meters. The engine subsequently failed completely. The aircraft entered an extremely steep right turn and a spiral dive, striking trees in a nearby wooded area.
The impact caused the aircraft to break apart and catch fire. The pilot in the rear seat managed to escape the burning wreckage and deploy a parachute. However, the individual in the front seat was unable to be rescued from the cockpit due to the rapid spread of flames. The front occupant died from burns.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage, the engine, and the flight path. Investigators analyzed the cockpit controls, noting that the propeller and mixture controls are positioned closely together on the left side of the cockpit and are only accessible from the rear seat. The investigation also included a simulation of the evacuation attempt from the rear seat.
Physical evidence at the crash site, including the state of the trees and the propeller blades, indicated that the engine was still producing power at the moment of impact. The propeller blades had been shattered in a pattern consistent with high-energy contact with trees while the engine was running under load.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of engine power during the flight, which led to the collision with trees.
- The pilot may have inadvertently mismanaged the engine controls due to the close proximity of the propeller and mixture levers.
- A potential error in the fuel selector valve position, following a switch from the fuselage tank to the wing tanks, may have contributed to the engine failure.
- The circumstances and level of preparation for the flight, which was intended as a familiarization flight, were contributing factors.
- The investigation could not confirm a mechanical failure of the engine, as no defects were found upon inspection of the engine components.