What happened
On July 18, 2009, at approximately 17:40, a Dewoitine D 501 replica, registration F-PRJD, was performing a cross-country flight from Montargis to Couhé for an airshow. During the flight, the pilot elected to terminate the mission and diverted to a field near Selles-Saint-Denis to perform a landing. GPS data indicates that the aircraft maintained a steady descent and approach, aligning itself with a field oriented toward 260 degrees to land into the wind.
As the aircraft reached the end of its landing roll, it overturned, resulting in the death of the pilot. The impact caused significant damage to the propeller and the rear fuselage section.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the circumstances of the landing. The aircraft, which was privately operated and maintained by the pilot, had not flown since September 2007, though the engine was reportedly run every three months.
Investigators examined the engine, fuel system, and flight controls. While no technical anomalies were found in the engine or fuel tanks, a structural failure was identified in the elevator control linkage. A specific component, a light alloy linkage rod, had suffered a sudden fracture at its cross-section, a known area of stress concentration. Due to the nature of the accident, it could not be determined if this breakage occurred during flight or during the rollover itself.
Additionally, the investigation looked into the cockpit configuration. The pilot was found secured with a four-point harness, seated on a wooden booster seat. This wooden seat failed due to an indentation during the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was a low-wing design, which inherently exposes the pilot's head to direct ground impact in the event of a rollover.
- The elevator control linkage was made of a cast light alloy with weak and heterogeneous mechanical strength, making it susceptible to failure at stress points.
- The pilot's seat was a wooden booster, which broke upon impact.
- The cause for the pilot's decision to divert from the original flight plan to a field landing remains undetermined.