What happened
On 21 August 2018, an Arsi AB Esqual VM-1C microlight, registered OO-H8D1, was conducting a local instruction flight near Abbeville, France. The flight, operated by Aero Club Brugge, was part of a training course being held at the Abbeville aerodrome to avoid congested Belgian airspace. The crew consisted of an experienced instructor and a 16-year-old student-pilot.
After taking off at approximately 19:25, the aircraft flew straight legs at roughly 3,000 ft for about thirty minutes. At approximately 19:54, while bypassing the Marquenterre Park area, the aircraft's flight path abruptly changed. Radar data indicated the microlight performed a 180-degree turn to the right, followed by a rapid descent with a vertical speed exceeding 5,000 ft/min. At 19:56, the aircraft struck a field at a high vertical speed and a nearly flat attitude, resulting in a post-impact fire. Both occupants were fatally injured.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and the accident site, a flat grass field. The aircraft's airframe was found largely intact but heavily damaged by fire. Investigators confirmed that the flight control linkages were continuous and had not failed prior to impact. While the engine was found to be in working order, it was providing little to no power at the moment of impact. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the aircraft in a right-hand spin and noted that the engine appeared to be running irregularly, with intermittent stops and restarts.
Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's technical specifications and maintenance history. The OO-H81 had undergone recent modifications, including a change to a wooden two-blade propeller. Notably, the club had opted not to install an airframe parachute, which was available as an option from the manufacturer.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a right-hand spin from which it could not recover.
- The exact sequence of pilot inputs leading to the loss of control could not be determined, though the flight may have included stall exercises.
- The lack of an airframe parachute was a significant factor that could have mitigated the impact and potentially saved the occupants.
- The engine's intermittent operation during the descent was likely caused by fuel supply disruptions resulting from the spin.