What happened
On September 15, 2007, a Barthe Eider, registration F-PMIC, departed from Cerfontaine Airfield for a local flight. Shortly after takeoff, as the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the engine experienced a series of coughs before shutting down completely. Following the loss of power, the aircraft entered a left-hand turn that transitioned into a stall. The aircraft impacted the ground 105 meters beyond the end of Runway 12, where it bounced and immediately caught fire. The intense post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft, and both the pilot and the passenger died in the accident.
The investigation
The AAIU(Be) examined the wreckage and the engine components. While investigators found several mechanical anomalies in the engine—including incorrect valve rocker assembly, missing fixation bolts, and abnormal wear on the crankshaft—none of these were determined to be the direct cause of the engine shutdown. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history and fuel system. It was noted that the aircraft had a history of fuel feed issues during takeoff and taxiing, which had been observed on several previous occasions. Although the aircraft had sufficient fuel on board for the flight, the investigation focused on why the engine failed despite the presence of fuel.
Findings
- The engine shutdown occurred at a low altitude, leaving the crew with limited options.
- The aircraft experienced a stall and subsequent spin to the left following the engine failure.
- The aircraft had a documented history of fuel starvation issues during takeoff and taxiing.
- While troubleshooting was ongoing, a definitive corrective action for the known fuel feed problems had not yet been implemented.
- Two hypotheses were proposed for the engine failure: either the electrical fuel pump failed, leading to insufficient fuel flow, or the engine experienced vapor lock due to overheating in the engine compartment.
Safety action
- The investigation highlighted the importance of pilots properly reporting even minor flight anomalies to recognize growing technical problems.
- It was noted that pilots performing their own maintenance should not defer the correction of defects indefinitely and should seek expert assistance if a problem remains unresolved.
- The report suggests a need for awareness campaigns regarding the extreme dangers of stall and spin accidents at low altitudes in general aviation.