Certification of the Extra EA-500 turboprop variant of the six-seat Extra EA-400 light aircraft has been delayed after the only prototype crash-landed during a test flight. The aircraft was being prepared for the ILA 2002 Berlin air show following its first flight on 26 April.
The EA-500 had completed a 30min test flight at 13.15 on 30 April and was on short finals, approaching Extra's home airfield of Dinslaken, close to Dusseldorf, when the two test pilots were forced to make a landing 150m (500ft) from the runway.
The incident is being investigated by German airworthiness authorities and the manufacturers. The crash will delay the programme by at least six weeks.
The EA-400 was designed to accommodate a turboprop and minor modifications were needed to switch to a Rolls-Royce 250. The re-engined aircraft is still scheduled for German certification next year.
Source: Flight International
