Report on serious aviation incident near Råde Church in Østfold, Norway, on Wednesday 21 June 2017 involving Diamond DA 40 NG, LN-FTR, operated by Pilot Flight Academy
Aviation report 2022/05
On 21 June 2017, a student pilot and an instructor took off in LN-FTR from Torp Airport Sandefjord (ENTO) to perform an IFR flight to Karlstad in Sweden. Being established at a cruising altitude of 6,000 ft over Fredrikstad area, the crew heard a bang from the engine. This was followed by uncontrolled variations in rpm. After a while, it was no longer possible to maintain the aircraft’s altitude, and the engine eventually came to a complete stop. The crew transmitted a distress message and headed towards the nearest airport; Moss Airport Rygge (ENRY). When it became clear that the aircraft would not make it to Rygge, the instructor performed a forced landing in a field near Råde Church. The crew sustained no injuries and the aircraft was not damaged during the landing. The NSIA’s investigation has shown that LN-FTR suffered engine failure as a result of significant internal engine damage.
It is probable that cylinder 1 was damaged first and that the damage then spread to the remaining cylinders. The investigation indicates two possible failure scenarios. The origin of the damage may either have been incorrect installation of the timing chain, or it was local damage caused by other factors. The investigation has not given sufficient basis for concluding which of these two is most likely.
On the day before the incident, the aircraft had left the repair shop after replacement of the engine’s cylinder head. It had subsequently flown 5:30 flight hours before the incident flight.
The crew received no prior warning of the engine failure. The investigation has shown that the crew could neither have prevented the engine failure nor restarted the engine after it stopped. In the NSIA’s opinion, the emergency situation was well handled.
Published 14.06.2022
Facts
| Location | Near Råde Church, Råde municipality in Østfold, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 21.06.2017 |
| ICAO Location indicator | ENRY |
| Aircraft | Other light aeroplane |
| Operator | Pilot Flight Academy AS - ATO |
| Registration | LN-FTR |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Østfold |
| Type of occurrence | Serious incident |
| Type of operation | Training |
| Category of operation | Light, aeroplane (< 5 700kg) |
| Aircraft category | Landplane, Piston engine, Single-engine |
| FIR/AOR | ENOS (Oslo ATCC) |