Airplane crash near Ādaži may have been caused by aircraft engine malfunction

The aviation accident that occurred on 4 May on the Tallinn motorway near Ādaži when a small aircraft made an emergency landing on the road may have been caused by unstable operation of its engine, LETA learned from the Transport Accidents and Incidents Investigation Bureau (TNGIIB) based on the initial investigation results.

The office reports that the technical inspection of the aircraft and the technical documentation is still ongoing. The questioning of the people involved in the incident is also ongoing.

The head of the Aviation Accidents and Incidents Investigation Department of the TNGIIB, Vilis Ķipurs, told LETA that the Safety Investigation Authority will publish the final report as soon as possible – within 12 months of the date of the incident.

He also pointed out that the safety investigation of aviation accidents and incidents does not in any way involve the attribution of blame or liability and that the sensitive safety information related to the investigation is protected and not publicly available.

The agency reports that the aircraft in question made three flights on the day of the incident. No incidents were observed. After the last flights, the aircraft was prepared for the flight that led to the above-mentioned incident.

At an altitude of about 500 meters, the aircraft engine began to show signs of instability and vibration. The pilot decided to look for a suitable emergency landing site. Since the dimensions of the aircraft exceeded the width of the lane of the Tallinn highway, the aircraft collided with a road sign with the middle of the left wing during landing. The aircraft was forced into the oncoming lane and collided with the right wing tip with another road sign, destroying the onboard lighting at the wing tip.

There were two people on board the plane – the pilot and the passenger. Neither of them was injured. When the plane came to a stop, the pilot reported the incident.

After receiving information about the incident from the pilot school representative, the TNGIIB aviation accident investigators went to the accident scene. At the accident scene, the circumstances of the accident were clarified, witnesses were interviewed, the aircraft was inspected, a fuel sample was taken and measures were taken to preserve evidence.

After all necessary procedures were completed, the aircraft was cleared from the road and placed in a hangar at Ādaži airfield for storage and further examination.

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