What happened
On July 8, 2017, a Pitts S-2B, registration F-GGPS, departed from the Coulommiers – Voisins airfield for a planned aerobatic session at Ferté Gaucher. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, while at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,5-00 feet, the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot attempted to restart the engine using the fuel pump and starter but was unsuccessful. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the intended destination, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a wheat field approximately 2.5 km west of the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a bump and overturned onto its back. The pilot sustained slight injuries, but the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and discovered a fuel leak at a previous repair site on the lower rear