What happened
In May 2018, two separate fatal accidents involving powered aircraft occurred in the Netherlands. On May 22, a Reims F172N departed Rotterdam The Hague Airport for a proficiency check. While flying near Stolwijk, the aircraft's left wing struck several trees, causing the wing to detach and resulting in a crash that killed both occupants. Shortly after, on May 31, a Piper Pawnee crashed near Breda International Airport. The accident occurred immediately after the aircraft had picked up an advertising banner, resulting in a fire and the death of the solo pilot.
Other notable occurrences included a runway excursion at Breda International Airport on June 15, involving a New Piper PA-28-181, which veered off the runway and through airport fencing. In the gliding sector, a LAK-17AT performed an off-airfield landing near Terlet after the pilot lost altitude while attempting to intercept another glider. Additionally, an LS 4-b glider experienced a significant incident where the air brake lever detached during flight, though the pilot managed a safe landing.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board examined the circumstances surrounding these various occurrences, including the mechanical failures in the LS 4-bu and the flight paths of the fatal accidents. For the Reims F172N and Piper Pawnee crashes, the Board initiated formal investigations to determine the sequence of events. In the case of the LS 4-b, investigations into a manufacturer-issued modification revealed that the installation did not strictly adhere to the provided instructions.
Findings
Investigations into the fatal accidents focused on the impact with obstacles and the immediate aftermath of banner retrieval. In the LS 4-b incident, it was determined that the air brake lever connection had become detached from the mechanism. Regarding the LS 4-b modification, findings indicated that the installation was not performed in complete accordance with manufacturer instructions.
In a separate incident involving an Aquila AT01, it was found that a tow bar remained attached to the nose wheel during takeoff because the pilot's walk-around inspection was performed too early, and the bar was not visible from the cockpit after boarding.