What happened
On September 5, 2003, at 16:03, a Piper PA-25-150, registration EC-ARY, was performing an aerial advertising mission at San Javier Airport in Murcia, Spain. The aircraft was part of a flight involving two other aircraft, tasked with retrieving a banner from a designated area between two vertical metal bars.
After completing a circuit and descending through the "gate" area, the pilot successfully hooked the banner. However, during the subsequent climb, the pilot reported a delay in engine response. Because the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude, the banner remained on the ground and was dragged across the apron and parking area. During this drag, the banner became entangled with a parking beacon.
Unable to maintain flight, the pilot performed an emergency landing approximately 80 meters from the airport's fire station. During the final portion of the ground excursion, the left landing gear struck the terrain twice, and the left wing impacted low-lying vegetation. The pilot, a commercial pilot with over 2,000 total flight hours, escaped the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on why the aircraft failed to lift the banner and why the aircraft's path led to the collision with the beacon. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed a 500-hour inspection had been completed 22 days prior to the event. Post-incident ground tests of the Lycoming engine and propeller were conducted at maximum power, and no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions were detected.
Investigators also analyzed the operational procedure for banner retrieval, which requires the aircraft to travel 20 to 30 meters horizontally to allow the cable to tension and lift the banner. They noted that the distance between the retrieval point and the beacon was approximately 80 meters, which should have been sufficient for a normal climb.
Findings
- The inability of the aircraft to climb prevented the banner from lifting off the ground within the standard distance, causing it to be dragged into the beacon.
- Crosswind conditions played a significant role; the aircraft was subject to variable winds from the right. These winds likely induced a left wing-down roll, making the aircraft difficult to control during the maneuver.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the main landing gear, and the left wing structure, while airport property, including a beacon and utility covers, was also damaged.