What happened
On November 13, 2015, a gyroplane, identified as 56-RF, was performing a local flight near the Courseulles-sur-Mer ULM platform in France. The aircraft, an ELA Junior, had been brought to a maintenance workshop a few days prior for a blade articulation modification under warranty.
During the flight, the pilot performed a low-altitude, high-speed pass over runway 24. Following this pass, the pilot executed a sudden pull-up maneuver. As the aircraft entered a steep climb, its forward airspeed dropped to nearly zero. At the end of this ascent, the gyroplane tilted to the side, pitched forward, and struck the ground. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the flight dynamics leading to the impact. A witness, the manager of the maintenance workshop where the recent blade modification had been performed, observed the sequence of events. This witness had also conducted a test flight following the maintenance work and reported no functional anomalies.
Investigators examined the wreckage to determine if any mechanical failure contributed to the accident. The examination of the engine and the recently modified blade articulation revealed no malfunctions or damage prior to the impact. While the fuel tank was too damaged to determine the exact amount of fuel on board, investigators confirmed that fuel was present in the lines leading to the carburetor at the time of the crash. The investigation could not determine the specific reason for the aggressive maneuver, nor could it confirm the pilot's specific gyroplane qualifications or flight experience.