Incident Overview
On June 15, 2012, an accident occurred involving a single-engine piston aircraft at the Betzdorf-Kirchen airfield (EDKI) in Germany. The investigation was conducted by the German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Agency (BFU) under case number BFU 3X060-12. The event resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and minor injuries to three occupants and one person on the ground.
Aircraft and Operator Details
The involved aircraft was a DR 400/180R manufactured by Avions Pierre Robin – Centre Est Aeronautique, built in 1975 with serial number 1078. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360 A3A engine and equipped with a Mühlbauer MTV-10-B propeller. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated 3,293 flight hours. The last airworthiness inspection was completed on April 6, 2012. The aircraft was operated by an association and registered for traffic in Germany.
Flight Sequence and Accident Description
The incident took place during a corporate event featuring sightseeing flights. At approximately 17:19, the pilot of the DR 400/180R was on final approach to runway 26. The pilot reported that the approach was normal, with an airspeed of 130–135 km/h and full landing flaps deployed. However, the aircraft pitched down over the right wing, causing the right main gear to strike the ground first. Subsequently, the nose gear, propeller, and engine impacted the terrain, breaking off from the fuselage. The aircraft then rolled onto its back.
Damage and Injuries
The crash site was located on a grassy slope approximately 8.5 meters before the runway 26 threshold. Ground marks extended about 39 meters in a direction of 270°. Significant structural damage included the separation of the engine, propeller, and fire wall from the fuselage. The left wing broke off approximately 220 cm from the root, while the right wing detached at 70 cm. The vertical stabilizer was bent, and the right horizontal stabilizer was kinked. No fire occurred during flight or after impact. The three occupants sustained cuts and bruises, while a bystander suffered a shock.
Environmental and Operational Context
Weather conditions were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with visibility exceeding 10 km. Wind speeds were approximately 10 knots, shifting from east to west during the afternoon. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) and had 345 total flight hours, including 86 hours on this specific type.