Serious Incident Involving Yak-52TW LY-WAW at Bănești Flight Field

Occurrence Overview and Aircraft Details On 23 October 2014, a Yak-52TW aircraft registered LY-WAW, owned and operated by SC IACĂRII ACROBAŢI SRL, was involved in a serious incident at Bănești flight field in Prahova County, Romania. The aircraft, manufactured by Aerostar SA in 2005, was configured as a two-seat tandem trainer with a retractable landing gear and an M-14PF radial piston engine. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had accumulated 486 flight hours. ## Sequence of Events The pilot, a 47-year-old Romanian citizen with an ATPL and approximately 14,000 total flight hours, initiated a repositioning flight from Bănești to Băneasa Airport in Bucharest at 11:10 local time. During the flight, deteriorating weather conditions, including heavy rain and gusty winds, prompted the pilot to return to the departure airfield. Upon landing on runway 24, the aircraft experienced a hard touchdown on two points due to a tailwind. Believing the wet grass surface offered insufficient stopping distance, the pilot initiated a go-around. ## Forced Landing and Damage Immediately after the go-around, the pilot reported that the engine did not provide the necessary thrust. To avoid obstacles, including electric lines and buildings, the pilot turned right and executed a forced landing on unsettled land near the flight field. The aircraft landed with the landing gear retracted and skidded to a stop without nosing over. The incident resulted in substantial damage, including destroyed propeller blades, a damaged engine lower cowl, and damage to the flaps and the underside of the wings. The pilot was not injured, and no fire occurred. ## Investigation Findings The investigation determined that the cause of the serious incident was damage to the engine propeller during a high-speed landing following a rough touchdown on two points. The investigation noted that propeller blade fragments and helical cutting traces were found on the grassy runway surface prior to the go-around, indicating the propeller had contacted the ground. The investigation concluded that the pilot's decision to take off was erroneous given the weather conditions, but the subsequent actions taken after the propeller damage were timely and effective in preventing a more serious outcome.