What happened
On Thursday, April 2, 1998, at 13:50, a Scheibe SF 28 A motor glider, registration F-CEYR, was conducting a training flight at the Mantes aerodrome. During an approach to runway 22, the aircraft performed a touch-and-go maneuver. During the subsequent initial climb, the engine stopped functioning.
Upon the loss of engine power, the instructor took control of the aircraft to perform a 180-degree turn in an attempt to return to the aerodrome for an emergency landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the ground in a field located a few hundred meters from the runway. The accident resulted in two injuries (the instructor and the student) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine failure and the subsequent flight path. Investigators examined the fuel system and discovered that the fuel filter from the tank was covered in particulate matter. However, because the fuel system had been cleaned prior to the arrival of the investigators, the specific origin of these particles could not be determined.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred during the initial climb phase following a touch-and-go.
- Particulate contamination in the fuel filter likely caused a reduction in fuel flow, which was sufficient to trigger the engine shutdown.