What happened
On January 20, 1995, a Falcon 20E, registration F-GHLN, operated by LEADAIR UNIJET, was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Le Bourget to Sibiu, Romania. Shortly after rotating for takeoff from runway 25, the aircraft's left engine experienced a sudden failure. Air traffic controllers observed a flash and a large flame near the left engine immediately following rotation.
The flight crew attempted to execute a tight circuit to return to runway 25 for an emergency landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft's rear section was visibly on fire. At approximately 16:32 UTC, the aircraft struck the ground at the intersection of runways 21 and 07, sliding approximately 400 meters before being consumed by flames. The accident resulted in 10 fatalities, including all 7 passengers, 2 crew members, and 1 cabin crew member, as well as a dog on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events following the engine failure and the mechanical integrity of the engine components. Investigators examined the engine debris found near the runway and identified several dead lapwings at the intersection of the runways. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history of the Falcon 20E and the operational procedures for bird strike prevention at Le Bourget airport. Technical analysis of the GE CF700 engine was conducted to determine why the engine failure became uncontained.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the massive ingestion of lapwings into the left engine immediately after takeoff.
- This ingestion triggered a fan rotor overspeed that the engine's protection systems failed to mitigate.
- The resulting uncontained engine burst released high-velocity fragments that penetrated two fuel tanks, causing a severe fire in the rear compartment.
- The rapid spread of the fire and the loss of control during the emergency landing maneuver prevented the crew from successfully returning to the runway.
- Bird strike prevention measures at the airport were found to be insufficient, as the fixed loudspeaker system was non-operational at the time of the incident.