What happened
On 23 March 2019, a Morane Saullarnier MS880, registration F-GITN, was conducting a cross-country training flight from Maubeuge Elesmes to Valenciennes Denain. The pilot, who was performing a proficiency check revalidation, was accompanied by a passenger. During the return leg, the pilot initiated a series of handling exercises, including a simulated forced landing without power.
As part of the procedure, the pilot reduced engine power and activated the carburetor heat. After flying over a treeline, the pilot executed a go-around. Although the pilot believed the carburetor heat had been deactivated during this maneuver, the engine began misfiring and subsequently stopped at approximately 1,100 feet. Despite attempts by the pilot and passenger to restart the engine using the starter and switching fuel tanks, the engine remained inoperative. The pilot proceeded with a low-speed approach to a field near Taisnières-sur-Hon. Due to the soft, rain-soaked ground, the landing gear penetrated the soil and broke upon impact, causing severe damage to the aircraft. The two occupants sustained slight injuries.
The investigation
The BEA examined the engine, the aircraft's configuration, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation focused on the engine's Teledyne Continental Motors 0.200.A power plant and the possibility of fuel exhaustion or mechanical failure. Investigators also analyzed the environmental conditions, specifically the temperature and dew point, to assess the risk of carburetor icing.
Findings
- The investigation ruled out fuel exhaustion as a cause.
- No mechanical anomalies were found in the engine during workshop examinations, aside from damage likely sustained during transport.
- The meteorological conditions (temperature of 10-11°C and a dew point of 6-8°C) placed the aircraft within an envelope where carburetor icing was a significant risk.
- The pilot's decision to fly at a low airspeed during the approach, while intended to minimize landing distance, contributed to the landing gear's failure in the soft terrain.
- The pilot's workload during the simulated engine failure exercise may have led to the oversight of the carburetor heat setting.