The recommendation followed the completion of a technical investigation into an incident that occurred last March involving a Sting TL-2000 light-engine aircraft registered in Moldova. The aircraft was performing a routine short flight from the Horesti airfield near the town of Hincesti.
While performing a maneuver to the north, the pilot reported a sudden loss of engine power: during the flight, the propeller was completely torn off. The airplane began to lose altitude and the pilot made an emergency landing on agricultural land north of Hincesti. The landing was controlled, with no casualties but damage to the aircraft. The pilot had a valid license and medical certificate.
The investigation determined that the cause of the incident was a mechanical failure of the propeller mounting system, aggravated by the effects of a previous “prop strike” in May 2024, as well as maintenance irregularities. The experts also found that the failure of the propeller mounting system was the result of internal damage and material deterioration that had not been identified and repaired since the previous prop strike.
