What happened
On September 25, 2015, at approximately 15:55 local time, a kit-built Storm ultralight, identified as 21-AJN, was performing circuit patterns at the Beaune-Challanges aerodrome. The aircraft was operated by a private pilot, an experienced instructor, who was accompanied by a passenger who was also a qualified instructor. During a go-around maneuver on runway 03, the engine stopped functioning. Following the engine failure, the aircraft banked to the left, pitched forward, and struck the ground. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire, which destroyed the aircraft. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both the pilot and the passenger died.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the circumstances leading to the engine failure. The Storm had been homebuilt by the pilot and had only been in operation since October 2014, with approximately 35.3 flight hours recorded at the time of the accident. Records indicated the aircraft was still in a developmental phase, with the pilot noting recent maintenance and testing.
Investigators examined the wreckage located in an open field. While the aircraft burned following the impact, the examination of the debris did not reveal any specific technical failure that could explain the crash. However, the condition of the propeller blades suggested that the engine was not delivering power at the moment of impact.
Findings
- The investigation could not definitively establish the specific cause of the engine failure or the subsequent loss of control.
- Evidence from the propeller blades indicated a lack of engine power during the final moments of flight.