What happened
On February 11, 2003, at Pociūnai Aerodrome, a Yakovlev JAK-52, registration LY-ARB, was performing a test flight following maintenance work completed by UAB Nerka. The flight was intended to capture aerial photographs of the aircraft from ground level at an altitude of approximately 5 meters.
During the second flight of the day, the pilot descended parallel to the left side of the runway. While descending, the pilot misjudged the altitude, causing the propeller and landing gear to strike the snow-covered ground. The impact damaged the propeller tips. In response to the strike, the pilot climbed to an altitude of 10–15 meters and deployed the flaps to reduce airspeed.
As the aircraft approached the end of the aerodrome, the pilot attempted a right-hand turn to avoid obstacles. However, because the aircraft was flying at a speed below its stall margin with the flaps extended and engine power at minimum, it entered an uncontrolled spiral. The aircraft struck the ground on its right wing, followed by the engine and the left wing tip, eventually coming to a halt 75 meters from the primary impact point.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's actions, the aircraft's technical status, and the aerodrome conditions. Investigators noted that while the pilot was properly certified, they had very limited flight experience in the preceding 90 days.
The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history of LY-ARB. Although the aircraft held a valid certificate of airworthiness, it had not undergone required periodic overhaul for the glider components, and the engine was due for scheduled maintenance. Additionally, the standard landing gear was not suitable for operations on snow-covered surfaces according to the flight manual.
Findings
- The pilot descended to an unsafely low altitude, which directly caused the initial propeller strike.
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's attempt to perform a turn at a low altitude while flying below the minimum safe speed.
- Visual cues were obscured by sun reflections off the snow and a lack of high-visibility markers or windsock on the runway.
- The aircraft's landing gear configuration was inappropriate for the snowy aerodrome conditions.
Safety action
- The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) should refine regulations regarding the organization and execution of test flights by maintenance organizations, treating such flights as an integral part of commercial operations.
- Maintenance organizations conducting test flights must ensure that a safe altitude is maintained at all times.