What happened
On February 27, 2023, a Tecnam P2006T, registration TC-ERA, was conducting a multi-engine training flight (ME-CR-4D) departing from Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport (LTFC). The flight was operated by ER-AH Havacılık Ticaret Limited Şirketi and was manned by an instructor and a student pilot.
After climbing to 6,500 feet and reaching approximately 10 nautical miles from the airport, the crew noticed a significant drop in RPM and power on the right engine. The crew attempted to troubleshoot the issue by adjusting the throttle and propeller controls and followed emergency checklists, including activating fuel pumps. However, the right engine's RPM continued to drop, reaching between 1,100 and 1,200 RPM.
As the aircraft lost altitude and airspeed, the crew determined they could not reach the runway. While attempting to align with the runway heading, the crew deployed the landing gear. The increased drag from the extended gear and the unfeathered propeller caused a continuous descent. Ultimately, the aircraft performed a forced landing in a field approximately 1 NM west of the airport at a speed of approximately 70 knots. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including nose and main landing gear failure, fuselage deformation, and a broken cockpit canopy. There were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The UEİM investigation focused on the cause of the engine power loss and the crew's emergency response. A technical examination of the right Rotax 912 S3-01 engine was conducted at a certified maintenance center. While investigators found some irregularities, such as a mispositioned carburetor piston and minor water leaks in the cooling system elbows, the engine was successfully run on a test bench and met all manufacturer-specified parameters. The test concluded that there was no inherent manufacturing defect or mechanical failure that would have caused the RPM loss during flight.
Findings
- The investigation established that the instructor pilot failed to fully implement the 'one engine inoperative' procedures from the emergency checklist.
- Specifically, the crew did not properly feather the propeller, which significantly increased aerodynamic drag and contributed to the loss of altitude.
- The decision to extend the landing gear while struggling with engine performance further increased drag and prevented the aircraft from reaching the runway.
- The aircraft was approaching the landing site at an excessive speed for the terrain.
- The aircraft's Flight Tracking System (HATS) was found to be non-functional at the time of the accident.
- The investigation found no evidence of engine failure due to mechanical or manufacturing defects.