Engine failure leads to nose-first impact in ultralight training flight

Casualties unknown • Ettinghausen, DE

An engine failure during a climb caused a Comco Ikarus C22 to strike a field, resulting in serious injuries to the instructor.

What happened

On September 12, 2010, a Comco Ikarus C22 ultralight aircraft departed from the Reiskirchen grass airstrip for a training flight. On board were a flight instructor and a student pilot. Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft was in a climb at an altitude of approximately 60 to 70 meters, the engine suffered a loss of power and subsequently failed.

The instructor took control of the aircraft to perform an emergency landing in a field east of the airfield. However, due to the low altitude, the pilot was unable to establish sufficient airspeed to execute a proper flare maneuver. The aircraft struck the ground nose-first and subsequently overturned. The instructor sustained serious injuries, while the student pilot suffered minor injuries.

Probable cause

The engine failure was caused by a lean fuel mixture resulting from insufficient fuel pressure due to a loosely attached impulse line on the fuel pump. The severity of the impact was compounded by the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for a flare during the emergency landing.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2010-09-12 Comco GmbH Ikarus C22 accident near Ettinghausen, DE?

An engine failure during a climb caused a Comco Ikarus C22 to strike a field, resulting in serious injuries to the instructor.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-09-12 involved a Comco GmbH Ikarus C22, at Ettinghausen, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine failure was caused by a lean fuel mixture resulting from insufficient fuel pressure due to a loosely attached impulse line on the fuel pump. The severity of the impact was compounded by the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for a flare during the emergency landing.

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