What happened
On August 17, 2015, a Xenon 2 RT gyroplane, identified as 88-NJ, was conducting a local flight departing from Merville aerodrome. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and a passenger. While flying at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,400 feet, the crew attempted to circumnavigate the town of Aire-sur-la-Lys via a left-hand turn. During the maneuver, south of the town, the gyroplane suddenly lost altitude, struck the ground, and caught fire.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the flight path, the wreckage, and the aircraft's configuration. Investigators recovered a camera from the site containing aerial photographs taken by the passenger during the flight; the final image was timestamped 9:36, approximately 900 meters from the crash site.
Analysis of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft was destroyed by fire, though the rotor and tail boom remained. The investigation noted that the engine was at minimum power at the time of impact. Crucially, the distribution of debris—including a large piece of plexiglass and the passenger's personal items—suggested that the cabin door may have been open during the descent. Witnesses also reported seeing a light-colored object being projected upward just as the aircraft began to pitch toward the ground.
Findings
- The investigation could not definitively establish a single cause, but evidence points to an unintended door opening.
- It is possible the passenger did not secure the door's locking palette with its safety strap, leading to the door opening and being torn away in flight.
- The sudden disruption caused by the door opening likely led to the loss of control.
- The aircraft's controls had been repositioned to allow the pilot to sit in the right seat, facilitating aerial photography for the passenger in the left seat.
- The pilot had a history of a cardiac event in 2014 requiring a pacemaker, though medical examinations did not confirm a loss of consciousness during the flight.