The Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau has concluded the investigation into the aviation accident that occurred on May 4, 2024, when a training aircraft from the pilot school “Eriva” carried out an emergency landing on highway A1 near Ādaži.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 500 meters, the aircraft engine began operating irregularly. The pilot decided to turn back towards Riga. However, despite the pilot’s actions, the aircraft began gradually losing altitude, engine thrust dropped rapidly, and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing on the A1 highway.
During the investigation conducted by the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, it was determined that although the aircraft had been maintained by a certified maintenance organization, the direct cause of the accident was unstable engine operation and vibration. The underlying cause was the loosening of the ignition system ground wire attachments to the engine intake manifold’s hex bolts during flight — likely due to an error made during technical maintenance.
The investigation also revealed that the accident was exacerbated by errors in the aircraft’s technical maintenance, possibly including insufficient attention to the ignition system’s ground wire fastenings during the pre-flight inspection.
Based on the findings and conclusions of the investigation, the Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Division of the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau issued several flight safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.