What happened
On September 13, 2006, at approximately 18:22 UTC, a KP 2 Sova Rapid 200 (registration OK KUU 58) crashed near the 115th kilometer of the D1 highway in the Czech Republic. The flight originated from Jihlava airfield and was intended to be a test flight to investigate a cockpit canopy leak and noise.
Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 meters above the ground, the aircraft entered a left-hand spin. The pilot was unable to recover from the maneuver, and the aircraft impacted the ground, resulting in the fatalities of both crew members. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft's condition, the pilot's experience, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators analyzed the wreckage, noting that the engine was either at idle or in autorotation upon impact, and confirmed that neither the engine nor the propeller had suffered mechanical failure prior to the accident.
Regarding the pilot's qualifications, the investigation found that the pilot had completed basic training only 63 days prior to the accident, with approximately 30 hours of flight time. Due to the lack of a mandatory pilot logbook for this type of aircraft in the Czech Republic, the investigators could not definitively confirm if the pilot met the minimum flight hour requirements to carry a passenger.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's inability to recover from a left-hand spin at a low altitude.
- The pilot's very limited flight experience was a highly probable contributing factor.
- Meteorological conditions, specifically wind gusts estimated between 25-33 knots, were identified as a probable contributing factor, as these gusts exceeded the operational limits for this aircraft type.
- The aircraft was operating under a temporary registration for a foreign customer and did not have a permanent registration marked on the fuselage.