What happened
On April 17, 2022, a privately built Monnett Sonerai I aircraft, registration OH-XMA, was performing a training flight from Jyväskylä Airport (Tikkakoski). The pilot intended to perform a circuit and a touch-and-go landing. After departing runway 12, the pilot transitioned into a right-hand base leg at an estimated altitude of 150 meters, which was lower than the altitude specified in the Visual Approach Chart (VAC).
During the base leg, the engine experienced a failure and stopped. The pilot attempted to glide the aircraft back toward the airfield but was unable to reach the runway, resulting in an emergency landing in a forest approximately 300 meters southwest of the airport. The aircraft struck trees upon impact, causing fatal injuries to the pilot, who died at the scene. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's engine, fuel system, and electrical components. Testing was conducted on the magnetos, ignition lead sets, and the tachometer. Fuel samples were analyzed by the Neste Oy fuel laboratory. Investigators also reviewed weather modeling from the Finnish Meteorological Institute and examined the aircraft's maintenance and construction history, specifically focusing on the regulations governing amateur-built aircraft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an engine failure during the approach phase.
- Environmental factors, specifically the potential for carburetor icing in the prevailing conditions, were investigated as a contributing factor.
- The pilot was flying at an altitude significantly lower than the recommended height for the Tikkakoski airport approach.
- The pilot's emergency beacon was a manual-activation model and was not activated during the flight, which could have otherwise assisted rescue services in locating the wreckage more quickly.