What happened
On October 28, 2017, a Tecnam P9 92-JS, registration I-CORT, was performing a VFR flight from Rome Urbe (LIRU) to Terni (LIAA). After a prolonged period on the ground with the engine running, the aircraft departed from runway 34. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude between 200 and 300 feet AGL, the pilot experienced a drop in power and abnormal engine behavior accompanied by heavy vibrations.
In response to the engine issues, the pilot attempted an immediate return to the departure airport by performing a tight turn (often referred to as a "lasso" maneuver) to land on runway 16. The aircraft touched down far down the runway and bounced multiple times. Realizing there was insufficient runway remaining, the pilot attempted a balked landing with a high pitch attitude. This resulted in a loss of control and a subsequent stall, causing the aircraft to crash southeast of the runway 34 threshold onto a major railway line. The impact with a large tree partially slowed the descent.
The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a partially detached engine mount, a disconnected carburetor, and a deformed landing gear. While the pilot escaped without injury, the passenger sustained various injuries.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the engine malfunction and the pilot's subsequent flight maneuvers. Investigators examined the engine components, finding that one carburetor had become disconnected from its seat. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting he had fewer than 100 total flight hours.
Regarding the engine, several possibilities were explored, including fuel contamination (which was ruled out as the aircraft had flown successfully for 1 hour and 29 minutes prior to the incident), potential carburetor icing, or spark plug fouling. The investigation also analyzed the pilot's decision-making process, specifically the use of the high-risk turn to return to the airport and the failure to perform a secondary engine run-up after the long period of idling on the ground.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control in flight due to an aerodynamic stall during a balked landing attempt.
- The engine irregularity, which triggered the emergency, could not be definitively attributed to a single source, though investigators noted the disconnected carburetor and potential for transient icing or fuel delivery issues.
- The pilot's limited flight experience contributed to the accident.
- The decision to execute a high-risk, tight-radius turn to return to the runway increased the complexity of the situation and limited the time available for proper risk assessment.
- The pilot's attention became channeled on the engine problem, leading to inadequate basic handling of the aircraft during the approach, touchdown, and go-around phases.