Investigation of a serious aviation incident near Skjetten, Akershus, Norway
On Saturday 20 january 2024 LN-NRC suffered an engine failure during departure, and the pilot had to make an emergency landing in a field.
All engine instruments indicated normal values before take-off from Kjeller Airfield runway 30. When the aircraft crossed Nitevla the pilot noticed a reduction in power. Immediatly afterwards the pilot heard a "clunck" and the propeller stopped. The pilot performed a left turn and landed on a nearby snow covered field. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The aircraft has been transported back to Kjeller Airfield and the NSIA will perform an inspection of the engine.
Update 3 June 2024
The NSIA has examined the engine together with the manufacturer Rotax and the Austrian Safety Investigation Authority. The examination revealed that two of the rods had failed, and one of them had punched through the crank case. The big end bearing of the rods had not received sufficient lubrication.
An examination of the oil system did not find any signs of oil leakage and all the oil was found in the oil tank. The oil pump seemed to be in working order.
The investigation will look at the design of the oil cooler, the engine preheat system and cold weather operation.
The meteorological station at Kjeller reported recorded between -28 and -29 degrees when the flight was begun.
One of the rods had punched through the crankcase. Photo: NSIA
Damages to crack shaft. Photo: Rotax
Latest update: 03.06.2024
Facts
| Location | Skjetten, Akershus, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 20.01.2024 |
| Aircraft | Other light aeroplane |
| Operator | Nedre Romerike Flyklubb |
| Registration | LN-NRC |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Akershus |
| Type of occurrence | Serious incident |
| Type of operation | Private (club) |
| Category of operation | Light, aeroplane (< 5 700kg) |
| Aircraft category | Landplane, Single-engine |
| FIR/AOR | ENOS (Oslo ATCC) |