What happened
On July 31, 2010, an Evektor EV-97 Model 2000/R microlight aircraft, registration PH-3V6, was conducting a training flight from TrafficPort Venlo when the instructor noticed the cylinder head temperature exceeding maximum limits. After the instructor took control and reduced throttle, the temperature remained high, and the crew felt heat emanating from the engine, leading them to believe a genuine engine failure was occurring.
Seeking a safe place to land, the instructor initially identified a field but aborted the approach due to a fence and the presence of birds. A second field was considered but rejected because of cattle and a nearby treeline. During an attempt to go around and select a third landing site, the crew discovered that engine power had significantly diminished. While maneuvering toward the final approach of the new field, the aircraft was pushed off course by the wind. Due to the lack of available power, the aircraft could not maintain the necessary glide path and flew dangerously close to its stall speed. The aircraft's right landing gear struck a fence, causing the plane to crash and sustain unrecoverable damage. The instructor sustained a broken ankle, while the student pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the written statements provided by the flight crew. No further physical technical analysis or field investigation was conducted. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading from the initial temperature warning to the impact with the fence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of engine power following the initial temperature spike, which prevented the pilot from correcting the aircraft's flight path during a wind-induced drift.
- The crew's decision-making process involved multiple aborted landing attempts due to obstacles (fences, birds, and livestock).
- The aircraft was operating at a speed near its stall limit when it struck the obstacle.