What happened
On April 16, 2015, at approximately 10:00 local time, an Eurofly Flash Light (identified as 30-UL) departed from runway 36L at the Nîmes Courbessac aerodrome. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft entered a left-hand turn at a low altitude and began to lose height. During the maneuver, the aircraft struck a boundary wall running alongside the aerodrome perimeter, which subsequently ignited. The impact and following fire resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and one passenger) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the flight path. Technical examinations of the wreckage and engine indicated that the aircraft was banked to the left at the moment of impact. While the flight controls were found to be in a functional position, the continuity of the elevator and aileron control chains could not be fully verified due to missing components. The flaps were positioned between the retracted and first takeoff settings.
Investigators examined the rudder control cables and found that they were no longer attached to the rudder pedals. One cable still retained its fixing screw, while the other did not. Crucially, the threads of the fixing screws and the internal pedal housings showed significant wear and damage. This damage was inconsistent with a sudden breakage during the crash but was consistent with the screws having very few remaining threads to hold them in place.
Findings
- The investigation established that the fixing screws for the rudder control cable junctions were not secured with safety devices, such as lock washers or safety wire.
- This lack of security likely allowed the screws to loosen progressively over time.
- The degradation of these threaded assemblies likely led to the detachment of one or both rudder control cables prior to the impact.
- While the engine RPM was likely low or zero at the time of collision, the specific reason for the low power could not be determined.
- The investigation could not definitively conclude the exact extent to which the rudder cable detachment contributed to the loss of control, though the mechanical failure was a significant finding.