Summary
On 16 July 2022, an MXS aerobatic aircraft (registration N540XX) was performing a display at the AEROFest2022 airshow at Hajdúszoboszló Airport. During a half-roll maneuver, the pilot began the figure at such a low altitude that the left wingtip came dangerously close to the ground, creating a high probability of an accident. The pilot did not abort the display after the presumed ground contact but returned to base after the show. No injuries were reported, and no damage to the aircraft was confirmed or reported within the legal deadline.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at approximately 16:05 local time on 16 July 2022 at Hajdúszoboszló Airport (LHHO). The aircraft, an MXS manufactured by MXR Technologies Inc. with U.S. registration N540XX, was participating in a public airshow featuring aerial displays and sightseeing flights. While executing a half-roll, the pilot's actions brought the left wingtip so close to the ground that there was a high likelihood of an aviation accident. The pilot continued the display and returned to base after its completion. There were no injuries, and the investigation board had no information or evidence of damage to the aircraft.
Investigation Findings
The investigation board concluded that the presumed ground contact likely resulted from a misperception of altitude, which may have been caused by inadequate visual information. The board also identified contributing and risk-increasing factors. The investigation highlighted the absence of detailed regulations for public airshow events in Hungary, despite previous safety recommendations issued by the board in 2009 and 2016, and a 2010 measure from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Future Generations. The board noted that no regulation existed at the time of the incident to govern such events.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the serious incident was the pilot's misperception of altitude due to inadequate visual information, leading to the aircraft's wingtip coming dangerously close to the ground during a half-roll maneuver.
Safety Recommendations
The investigation board recommended issuing new safety recommendations to address the lack of regulations for public airshow events, aiming to reduce significant safety risks and protect both spectators and pilots.