What happened
During a flight in clear, calm weather, the pilot of a Pelican ultralight aircraft experienced significant vibrations while operating over a channel containing several boats. In an attempt to avoid the vessels, the pilot executed a 180-degree turn at low altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled and struck an island at a nearly vertical angle, causing the fuselage to flip. The impact was followed by an explosion and a fire that destroyed approximately 80 per cent of the aircraft. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries due to extreme deceleration forces upon impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the integrity of recent repairs. The aircraft had been modified with a Subaru engine, floats, and a new carbon fibre propeller. Investigators noted that a previous power test had caused the propeller to strike the engine cowling, damaging a blade edge. The pilot had performed subsequent repairs on the propeller, though the quality of these repairs was a point of concern, as the pilot had expressed dissatisfaction with the results the day before the accident. During the wreckage examination, only two of the three propeller blades were recovered.
Investigators also examined the electrical system and flight controls. Evidence of a short circuit was found on a battery cable in the forward cabin. While the aileron control tube had ruptured, laboratory testing confirmed the component had met all manufacturing and safety standards. Additionally, toxicology results for the pilot were negative.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a stall during a low-altitude turn intended to avoid boats in the channel.
- One propeller blade separated from the propeller during flight, which initiated the intense vibrations.
- The recent repair to the propeller contributed to the structural failure of the blade.
- The pilot attempted to manage the vibrations by adjusting engine power multiple times before the crash.