Accident Comco Ikarus C42B Cyclone OH-U443,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 144982
 
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Date:Wednesday 11 April 2012
Time:13:25
Type:Silhouette image of generic C42 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Comco Ikarus C42B Cyclone
Owner/operator:Keski-Karjalan Ilmailukerho ry
Registration: OH-U443
MSN: 0311-6580
Year of manufacture:2003
Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Lake Pyhäselkä, near Rääkkylä -   Finland
Phase: En route
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Kitee Airport - KTQ - EFIT
Destination airport:Kitee Airport - KTQ - EFIT
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
An accident happened on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 at approximately 13:25 on Lake Orivesi in the municipality of Rääkkylä when an Ikarus C42B ultralight aircraft collided with lake ice. The 74 year old pilot and the passenger, also 74 years old, perished in the accident. The crash resulted in a violent fire in which the aircraft was destroyed. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident.

The aircraft, fitted with inflatable floats (pontoons), took off from Kitee airstrip at about noon that day. The intention was to visit the passenger’s summer cottage in the village of Nieminen and to return to Kitee around 14:00 hours. Judging by the tracks on the ice the aircraft had landed near the cottage and the men had walked around on the shore. The tracks also indicated that the aircraft had taken off from the ice.

When the aircraft did not return to Kitee, a family member of the pilot called the Emergency Response Centre at 18:00 and reported the missing aircraft. The remains of the aircraft were discovered in a search operation at around 20:00 hours.

The aircraft had collided with the ice at a steep angle, slightly rolled to the left. All of the aircraft’s peripheral parts were found at the site of the collision. The engine had been running. The technical investigation revealed no such defect which could have caused the accident. However, as the aircraft was badly burnt, the possibility of a technical malfunction cannot entirely be excluded.

While the weather was suitable for VFR operations, the south-southeast wind was strong and gusty. The gusts approached the upper wind limits given in the accident aircraft’s flight manual and, at times, may have exceeded them.

Whereas the pilot’s total flying experience was sufficient for the intended mission, his recent flying experience was limited. His flying experience met the requirements of Aviation Regulations.

The aircraft’s weight and balance report in pontoon configuration had expired. Hence, the aircraft was not airworthy. The Aviation Regulations give 495 kg as the maximum certificated takeoff weight for a two-seat ultralight seaplane, whereas the estimated takeoff weight for this aircraft was 560 kg.

Loss of control of the aircraft in demanding conditions was the probable cause of the accident. Contributing factors included the pilot’s scant recent flying experience as well as the increased stall speed caused by the excess weight. Longer reaction times, due to the pilot’s age, also contributed to the onset of the accident. The possibility of an acute medical emergency could not be ruled out.
Two about 70 years old men were killed and the ultralight was almost completely destroyed by fire.

Sources:

http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi/en/Etusivu/Ajankohtaista/Valmistuneettutkinnattiedotteet/1347274638372

http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi/Etusivu/Ajankohtaista/1330603322384
http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/201204110215211_uu.shtml
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/Kaksi+kuoli+ultrakevyen+pienkoneen+maahansy%C3%B6ksyss%C3%A4+R%C3%A4%C3%A4kkyl%C3%A4ss%C3%A4/a1305559703600
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/kaksi-kuoli-pienkoneen-maahansyoksyssa-raakkylassa/art-1288461515551.html
https://www.flightforum.fi/
https://www.flightforum.fi/?FFSESS=bf9oq9got48410c6nq5mjhgss4&topic=102836.0_
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_cUfdihRrc

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
12-Apr-2012 04:16 Penu Added
12-Apr-2012 04:41 Anon. Updated [Registration]
12-Apr-2012 04:45 Anon. Updated [Aircraft type, Registration]
12-Apr-2012 04:47 harro Updated [Registration, Operator, Source]
12-Apr-2012 07:12 RobertMB Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
17-Apr-2012 12:20 harro Updated [Source]
28-Mar-2013 18:44 harro Updated [Time, Source, Narrative]
02-Jun-2013 11:46 Penu Updated [Time]
01-Apr-2014 08:05 harro Updated [Aircraft type]

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