What happened
On August 12, 2008, a Piper PA-18-150, registration I-ECID, was engaged in banner towing operations at an airpark in Val Vibrata, near Corropoli, Italy. The pilot was performing a routine procedure to attach an advertising banner alongside the runway.
After successfully hooking the banner, the aircraft initially flew parallel to the runway before performing a slow left turn toward the coast to follow the valley. An observer on the ground noted that the aircraft's rate of climb appeared irregular during this phase. Once the banner was released, the aircraft entered a right-hand turn, during which it lost control, entered a spin, and impacted the ground at a nearly vertical angle. The subsequent impact triggered a massive fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, the sole occupant, was killed in the accident.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the aircraft's technical condition, maintenance records, and the flight dynamics leading to the impact. Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the engine was producing low power at the moment of impact. Notably, the fuel drain filter's locking wire was missing, and the mixture control cable was found fully extended in the "closed" position.
Regarding the aircraft's history, the investigation revealed significant discrepancies in the maintenance logs. There were inconsistencies between the total engine hours and the hours recorded for the last annual inspection. Furthermore, the investigation found that a carburetor overhaul had been performed after the most recent Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) was issued, but this work was not recorded in the technical logs. Additionally, the aircraft's maintenance organization's certification appeared to have expired, and the required 100-hour inspection, due on August 3, 2008, had no record of being performed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control induced by an asymmetric stall, which led to an entry into a spin.
- The pilot's altitude was insufficient to recover from the spin and return to level flight.
- The stall was likely triggered by a reduction in airspeed, which was already low due to the nature of the towing operation.
- The aircraft was being operated by an organization that lacked adequate technical and operational safety oversight.
- Significant maintenance documentation gaps existed, including unrecorded engine component overhauls and overdue inspections.