What happened
On 27 June 2024, a Tecnam P2008JC, registration TC-UCM, operated by Plus İstanbul Uçuş Akademisi, was conducting a training flight from THK Selçuk Airport (LTFB) to Aydın Çıldır Airport (LTBD). Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the aircraft experienced severe vibrations followed by a total engine failure. The student pilot declared an emergency and requested permission for an emergency landing at Aydın Çıld and successfully landed the aircraft without further incident. There were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the event, and the aircraft sustained no structural damage.
The investigation
The UEİM investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the Rotax 912 S2-01 engine. Technical inspections were conducted in Italy by specialized technicians, and the engine was subsequently sent to the BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co factory for laboratory testing. The investigation examined maintenance records from 3M Havacılık and ER-AH Havacılık, as well as the aircraft's weight and balance, fuel levels, and meteorological conditions at the time of the incident.
Findings
- The investigation determined that the intake valve of the number 2 cylinder broke due to excessive air entering the lubrication system.
- Significant wear was found on the number 2 cylinder intake valve washers and the number 1 cylinder exhaust valve washers, indicating increased air content within the oil.
- This air presence caused high mechanical loads on the valve mechanism, leading to the valve failure.
- The investigation concluded that trapped air in the hydraulic valves, which entered the lubrication system during a recent oil change and was not properly bled during engine startup, was the primary cause of the failure.
- Maintenance records showed that while the aircraft was up to date, there were clerical errors in the maintenance release dates (stating 2023 instead of 2024).
- The Aircraft Tracking System (HATS) was found to be non-functional on the day of the incident.