Incident
On December 8, 2013, at 1607 coordinated universal time, a Pitts S-2B airplane, registration F-GEAL, experienced a loss of engine power while in flight. The pilot executed a force landing near Meaux-Esbly, France. The two occupants, a pilot and a passenger, were not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Aircraft and Engine
The accident airplane was a Pitts S-2B, a two-seat aerobatic biplane. It was powered by a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 engine. The investigation focused on the engine's condition.
Investigation
French authorities, specifically the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses), are conducting the investigation. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured. No further details about the failure mechanism or contributing factors have been released by the investigating body. The investigation remains under the jurisdiction of the French government.
Aftermath
The aircraft was substantially damaged but the occupants escaped without injury. The accident site is near Meaux-Esbly, France. The French BEA is the lead agency for the investigation, and any further information will be provided by them.