What happened
On August 14, 2021, a MAGNI GYRO M16 Tandem Trainer (registration 12CO) was conducting an instruction flight from a private microlight strip in Arceau-Arcelot. The flight was being conducted by an instructor with a student pilot in the front seat. During the initial climb, the instructor executed a right-hand turn. Following this maneuver, the aircraft struggled to maintain altitude and began a progressive descent.
The aircraft flew over the A3-31 motorway and eventually struck the ground in a quarry approximately 2.5 km southeast of the airfield. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire. While both occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft, the instructor sustained fatal injuries, and the student pilot suffered serious injuries. The microlight was destroyed in the collision.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the flight parameters, and the environmental conditions. The MAGNI GYRO M16 Tandem Trainer was found to be approximately 50 kg over its maximum allowable weight, with an estimated takeoff weight of 500 kg. While the airframe, rotor, and control systems showed no anomalies prior to impact, investigators noted abnormally high wear on the gearbox.
Regarding the flight controls, the student pilot was responsible for managing the throttle from the front seat. The investigation also noted that while instruments were located in the front seat, they were theoretically visible to the instructor in the rear seat, though visibility can be obstructed by the pilot in the front.