What happened
On October 7, 2017, a Tecnam P2002 Sierra, registration I-8662, departed from the Carzago Riviera airfield in Brescia, Italy, for a recreational flight to Montebelluna. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot notified another aircraft via radio that an unspecified problem had occurred and expressed the intention to return to the departure airfield.
While flying at a low altitude during the return maneuver, the aircraft struck a 132,000-volt power line's guard wire. The impact caused significant structural damage, including the detachment of the right main landing gear and damage to the propeller. Approximately 135 meters after the initial contact with the wire, the aircraft struck the ground in a nose-low attitude at high speed. The impact triggered a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, the sole occupant, died from polytrauma sustained during the accident.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the wreckage, the engine, the propeller, and the surrounding environment. Technical analysis of the BRP-Rotax 912 UL engine and the variable-pitch propeller revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that could have caused the flight instability. The engine components, including the pistons and valves, were found to be in good working order.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials and found that while his medical certificate was valid, his ultralight pilot license had expired in March 2016. Additionally, the investigation noted that the aircraft's empty weight documentation had not been updated following the installation of a new propeller system.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact with a power line cable following an unspecified in-flight issue reported by the pilot.
- The low altitude following the cable strike left no margin for recovery.
- The position of the sun, which was directly in front of the pilot's flight path at the time of the incident, may have hindered the visibility of the power line, which lacked any warning markers.
- The pilot was operating with an expired pilot license.