What happened
On March 29, 2018, a pilot was conducting local circuits at the Mende Brenoux airfield in France. The pilot was operating a recently purchased Magni M1 8 Spartan, identified as 44ASG, marking his first flight in the aircraft since its acquisition. After successfully completing the first circuit, the pilot took off for a second circuit. Shortly after takeoff, the engine stopped running. The gyroplane lost altitude rapidly, descending almost vertically onto its final approach path, where it struck the canopy of trees before impacting the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the wreckage located in a forest approximately one kilometer from the end of runway 30. Investigators noted that the aircraft had struck the treetops, which were roughly five meters high, with very little horizontal velocity. The flight controls were found to be intact and functional. While the fuel system was continuous from the tanks to the carburetors, one tank was found empty and intact, while the other had been punctured. The fuel filter and system were heavily damaged, making it impossible to determine the exact amount of fuel remaining at the time of the accident.
Engine analysis revealed that the engine was not rotating at the moment of impact with the ground. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had been recently reassembled by the owner and his instructor following a complete engine overhaul performed just twelve days prior to the accident. Witnesses at the airfield reported hearing a loud cracking sound followed by the sudden silence of the engine.
Findings
- The engine stopped running during the initial climb of the second circuit.
- The low altitude at the time of the engine failure, combined with the low glide ratio characteristic of a gyroplane, left the pilot with insufficient time or altitude to reach a suitable landing area.
- The aircraft's vertical descent led to the collision with vegetation and the subsequent fatal impact.