What happened
On June 21, 2015, a Magni M22 Voyager gyrocopter, registration 46-FU, was participating in an open house event at the Cahors Lalbenque airfield. Following takeoff from runway 31, the pilot—a highly experienced professional with approximately 10,000 flight hours—began maneuvering the aircraft toward a nearby private airfield located at Saint-Paul de Loubressac.
During the maneuver, the pilot initiated a descent toward the beginning of runway 18 at the private strip. The passenger, seated in the rear tandem seat, observed electrical poles and lateral markers but could not discern the exact path of the power lines. Shortly before impact, the aircraft struck an electrical line. The collision caused the passenger to lose consciousness; upon regaining awareness, the aircraft was found overturned on the runway. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, while the passenger was seriously injured.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the flight path, the aircraft's technical state, and the characteristics of the private airfield. Engine data from the aircraft's Flydat recorder showed no mechanical anomalies prior to the impact, though engine RPM decreased approximately 40 seconds before the end of the recording. The wreckage came to rest roughly 220 meters after the collision, indicating significant horizontal speed at the time of impact.
Investigators examined the private airfield's infrastructure, noting that the struck power line was positioned at a height of approximately ten meters near the threshold of runway 18. The supporting utility pole was partially obscured by a grove of trees. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the airfield was not officially published on aeronautical charts, and the pilot was not authorized to use the facility.
Findings
- The accident was primarily caused by the pilot's decision to perform a direct approach to an unauthorized private airfield without prior contact with the owner or a reconnaissance flight.
- The lack of official aeronautical publication for the private airfield meant that pilots were unaware of its specific operational constraints or the presence of obstacles.
- The electrical lines were not marked with aviation warning markers, and the proximity of trees made the utility pole difficult to see.
- While the pilot had previously performed low-altitude maneuvers at this location, the lack of a preliminary survey prevented an adequate assessment of the hazards present at the runway threshold.