What happened
On September 7, 2013, an instructor and a student were conducting flight training maneuvers near Epinal Dogneville. The student, who was nearing the completion of their ultralight pilot certification, was performing a series of stalls and steep turns before beginning a simulated engine failure and forced landing exercise.
To initiate the drill, the instructor reduced engine power while the Humbert TETRA B, registration 88-LA, was at an altitude of approximately 2,600 feet. The student followed standard procedures to identify a suitable landing field. As the aircraft approached the final approach with full flaps extended, the instructor realized the aircraft was too high for the intended landing site and instructed the student to select a different field.
During the turn to the new landing site, the aircraft's descent rate increased rapidly, and the nose pitched down more aggressively than expected for the exercise. The instructor took control and attempted to pitch the nose up, but was unable to apply a go-around before the aircraft struck the ground. The impact resulted in two injuries and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and found no technical anomalies or mechanical failures that could explain the crash; the engine was delivering low power at the time of impact. Meteorological conditions were favorable, with clear skies, good visibility, and light winds.
The investigation also reviewed the experience of the crew. The instructor was an experienced pilot with approximately 350 hours on the type and had been a qualified instructor since 2012. The student was in the final stages of training, having completed 25 hours of dual instruction and two solo hours. The instructor later noted that he may have been less vigilant during the maneuver due to an overconfidence in the student's proficiency.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the instructor's late interruption of the simulated engine failure exercise.
- The instructor's lack of vigilance, stemming from an overconfidence in the student's skill level, contributed to the delayed takeover of controls.
- The investigation highlighted that when performing maneuvers below 500 feet, pilots must account for the time required for engine power to increase and for the aircraft to transition from a descent to a climb attitude.