On April 4, 1932, a Focke-Wulf A.16 (registration D-647) operated by Luftsport-verband Niedersachsen was involved in an aviation accident near Heiligenhafen, Germany in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A single-engine aircraft suffered a total loss of power during a propaganda flight over Schleswig-Holstein, resulting in a crash landing in an open field near Heilingenhafen. The pilot survived with minor injuries.
What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a propaganda flight over the northern region of Schleswig-Holstein. The departure point was Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel Airport. During the en-route phase, the engine experienced a loss of power and subsequently failed completely. This mechanical failure necessitated an immediate emergency landing attempt by the pilot.
The aircraft impacted the ground in an open field situated near Heilingenhafen. Upon impact, the airframe came to rest upside down. The pilot managed to escape the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries. The structural damage to the aircraft was severe enough that it was declared damaged beyond repair.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident was caused by an engine failure while in flight. No other contributing factors or human errors were cited in the available findings.
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