What happened
On June 9, 2003, at approximately 10:30 local time, a Randkar X AIR 602 T ultralight, identified as 46-CI, was completing a local flight departing from a private airstrip in Aynac, France. While flying at an altitude of 1,300 feet and roughly 600 meters from runway 31, the aircraft experienced a total engine failure.
The pilot, believing the aircraft was too high to reach the runway directly, initiated a descending 360-degree turn to reposition for the approach. However, during the final approach, the pilot realized the aircraft had lost too much altitude to reach the runway threshold. To avoid a violent impact with an embankment, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a narrow space between a residential house and an electric pylon. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck both the pylon and the building, resulting in one injury and heavy damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical cause of the engine failure and the pilot's decision-making during the emergency. Investigators examined the engine, which was a Rotax 582, and analyzed the flight path and environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Meteorological data recorded at the site indicated a light wind of 4 knots from 030°, visibility between 3,000 and 5,000 meters with dissipating mist, and a temperature of 21 °C.
Findings
Technical analysis revealed that the engine failure was caused by a rupture of a wire within the ignition circuit.
Regarding the flight maneuvers, the investigation determined that the pilot's management of the forced landing was inappropriate. The pilot focused excessively on attempting to reach the runway despite the loss of altitude, rather than utilizing nearby open fields for a safer field landing. The pilot's decision to use the pylon and building as braking points contributed to the impact.