C5/2007L Incidents at Helsinki-Malmi airport caused by ultralight aircraft 12 August 2007

At Helsinki-Malmi airport occured several incidents during unintentional taxiing and take-off on 12th August, 2007 at 18.24–18.53 caused by Skyranger V.Max -type ultralight amphibian aircraft. The accident investigation board Finland, in decision C5/2007L, decided to conduct an investigation into incidents. Investigator Ismo Aaltonen was nominated as the Chairman of the Investigation Commission and investigator Tapani Vänttinen as a member of the Commission.

The pilot’s purpose was to taxi the aircraft from apron 2 to apron 1 across runway 18/36 to its own stand. Immediately after engine start-up it went straight to full power and the aircraft started moving. The pilot concentrated taxiing the aircraft and could not stop it. The aircraft taxied at high speed across active runway 18/36 and continued on apron 1 taxiway. After turning left the pilot decided to make a take off. After take off pilot took radio contact to Malmi tower and returned from flight. The floats were slightly damaged during taxiing.

The pilot’s flying experience with this aircraft type was little. In addition aircraft cockpit ergonomy was significantly different from other aircraft types the pilot had flown. The pilot did not use checklists and did not use safety belts before engine start-up. The pilot turned the radio ON during the flight.

Incidents were caused by throttle lever mistakenly left to full power during engine start-up. Other causal factors were lack of checklists, little experience on this aircraft type, pilot’s attitude to taxiing compared to actual flight and wheel brakes insufficient to keep aircraft not moving.

The Investigation Commission made two safety recommendations. The Finnish Aeronautical Association is recommended to produce general instructions and checklist model for ultralight aircraft taxiing and run-up. In addition the Commission recommends that during basic and continuous training for ultralight flight instructors the correct use of checklists is emphasized. The Finnish Civil Aviation Authority is recommended to change type rating training part of aviation regulation PEL M2-70, the training according to different cockpit layouts and technical characteristics.

C5/2007L Report (pdf, 0.44 Mt)