Prototype Aerial Survey Plane Abandoned In Flight, Pilot Bails Out Safely

A prototype Sonaca 200 Airplane went down during the conduct of a testing regimen on October 24, in the midst of a field near Yves-Gomezée, Belgium.

Designated 00-STI, it had been undergoing supervised ground and flight tests under certification authorities, when the pilot ran into difficulty and decided to escape the aircraft over a space reserved for off-airport emergency landings. Witnesses in the local area described seeing a "sinking plane spinning before touching down."

Sonaca reports that it is clear that the incident does not cast a pall over their program, and that the bail-out was carried out under risk management procedures defined under their company's operations manuals. They emphasize that the aircraft never placed anyone in danger, being under their control, in secure airspace and over an area reserved for such flight testing. They also claim the airworthiness of the Sonaca 200 is not being called into question, and they are working with authorities to uncover the conditions that led to the loss of the airframe. SOS Pollution services arrived quickly on-scene to address the potential fuel leak and prevent any contamination. Images of the aircraft show a crinkled, bent, fuselage that is largely intact. 

The Sonaca 200 is a low-wing, two-seat general aviation aircraft, with a lightweight and affordable operational cost. Recent sales activity has been positive for type, with flight training demand increasing. This aircraft 00-STI, was the newer S201 variant featuring glass panel avionics, but differed from regular Sonaca 200's, as it was fitted with an underslung pod shaped much like a centerline drop tank. Equipped not with fuel, but with Lidar and an RGB camera, the system was built in collaboration with Stratos Solution for Stemme Belgium.  The aircraft was being tested for possible use in airborne data collection, maritime surveillance, and border patrol duties. 

FMI: www.sonaca-aircraft.com, www.stratos-solution.com