Today, at 10:36 a.m., the Aviation Search and Rescue Coordination Centre received a report that a powered hang glider carrying two people had crashed into the sea approximately 200–300 metres from the shore.
A team from the Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration (DG CAA) had been on site in the area since Sunday following a report from the Regional Governor of Burgas. During an inspection, the inspectors discovered the powered hang glider concealed among the rocks between Ravda and Nessebar. It was established that the aircraft was not registered. The inspection also found that it had not been properly maintained: the engine was rusty, makeshift repairs had been carried out on the propeller, and there were numerous visible defects. A report was immediately made to the 112 emergency number, whose operators asked the inspectors to notify them if the aircraft was observed taking off.
Yesterday, after the powered hang glider took off, a report was made to 112, but the aircraft did not return to the location. The police left the area, while the inspectors remained in order to alert the relevant authorities if the aircraft returned. It never did.
The aircraft was amateur-built. As a powered hang glider, it is required to undergo the full initial certification procedure as an aircraft because it does not have a type certificate. It must then be registered and obtain special authorisation to conduct this type of flight. The pilot is required to hold a National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL).
The flight operations were conducted entirely illegally, in breach of safety requirements, without the necessary authorisations and without registration in the records of the Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration.
The inspectors are providing full assistance to the competent authorities in establishing the circumstances of the case. The incident is also being investigated by the National Board for the Investigation of Accidents in Air, Water and Railway Transport.
