What happened
On July 27, 2005, a BX-2 Cherry (registration PH-VIN) was conducting a cross-country flight from Lelystad Airport to Abbeville under visual flight rules. The aircraft was flying in formation with another light aircraft, a Gardan GY-80. Approximately one hour into the flight, while positioned over the Westerschelde, the pilot noted unusual vibrations and noises coming from the engine.
In an effort to prevent significant engine damage, the pilot steered toward the nearest coastline and attempted to shut down the engine manually. However, the engine ceased functioning abruptly approximately 20 seconds after the initial symptoms appeared, while the aircraft was at an altitude of 1,300 feet. The pilot reduced speed to 80 knots, the optimal glide speed for the aircraft, and notified the accompanying aircraft, which subsequently alerted Dutch military air traffic control.
After unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot prepared for an emergency landing. To minimize the risk of impact, the pilot followed manual procedures by opting to land with the landing gear retracted. The pilot identified two potential landing sites and chose a large field cleared of obstacles. Due to insufficient altitude to perform a standard landing circuit, the pilot executed a straight-in approach using full flaps to descend. The aircraft touched down in a field of mown flax at 18:01 local time. During the landing roll, the aircraft rotated approximately 100 degrees toward the right wing. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted based on reports from the aircraft owner and pilot, alongside an inquiry by the National Police Aviation Service. Investigators focused on the mechanical failure of the Jabiru 2200A engine, which had a total of 212 flight hours.
Findings
The investigation established that the engine failure was caused by a broken exhaust valve.