What happened
On June 29, 2013, a Zlin Z-526 AFS-V was performing a series of aerobatic maneuvers near the Eberswalde-Finow airfield in Germany. The pilot had informed the airfield controller of his intention to conduct a training flight and visit a nearby motorsport event held at a local museum. Following takeoff from runway 10, the pilot began a sequence of maneuvers, including Cuban eights and rolls, in close proximity to spectators.
During the sequence, the pilot entered an inverted flight position. As he attempted to recover to upright flight using a half-roll to the left, the aircraft's flight path deviated significantly to the right. At an extremely low altitude, the wingtip tank of the right wing struck a solar panel, causing an explosion. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control, enter an inverted state, and crash into the photovoltaic array. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's configuration, the pilot's flight path via video reconstructions, and the mechanical state of the engine. Investigators found that the aircraft was equipped with additional wingtip tanks, which, according to the flight manual, transitioned the aircraft from the aerobatic category to the normal category. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not registered in Germany at the time of the accident and was operating with documentation and controls exclusively in Czech.
Engine analysis showed no evidence of mechanical failure prior to the accident. However, the investigation focused on the fuel system, specifically the intermediate tank used during inverted flight. The investigation also reviewed the legality of the flight altitude and the lack of a parachute for the pilot.
Findings
- The engine experienced a loss of power due to fuel starvation while the aircraft was in inverted flight.
- A control error during the recovery roll caused the aircraft to deviate into the solar array.
- The pilot's decision to perform aerobatic maneuvers at such a low altitude contributed to the accident.
- The aircraft was not configured for aerobatic flight because the additional wingtip tanks were installed.
- The pilot was performing maneuvers below the legal minimum altitude for aerobatics near a populated area and without required authorization.