What happened
On September 8, 2015, an AVEKO VL3-B ultralight aircraft was engaged in a local flight near the Amougies airfield in Belgium. After completing a navigation segment, the aircraft returned to the airfield and performed several touch-and-go landings. Witnesses observed the aircraft performing various "up and down" maneuvers in the vicinity of Velaines.
During the final sequence, the aircraft entered a steep climb with power applied. Shortly after reaching a peak altitude, the engine noise decreased, and the aircraft began to spin around its vertical axis. The aircraft descended into a cultivated field, resulting in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
The AAIU(Be) investigation focused on the flight dynamics and the aircraft's structural condition. Investigators noted that the aircraft's GPS and transponder were turned off during the final phase of the flight, preventing a precise reconstruction of the flight path via radar or digital tracks.
Analysis of the wreckage revealed that the airframe suffered extensive damage, including a rupture at the pilot's shoulder harness attachment point. Furthermore, investigators found a dashboard placard indicating the presence of an emergency recovery parachute, even though the aircraft was not equipped with one. The investigation also examined the flight manual, which prohibited stalls, and the pilot's experience level.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control during an intentional maneuver, which resulted in a spin.
- The pilot, who was inexperienced, chose to perform non-basic flight maneuvers without the presence of an instructor.
- The flight manual's prohibition of stalls created a lack of guidance for performing and recovering from such maneuvers safely.
- The absence of a stall warning system in this class of ultralight aircraft prevented early detection of the approaching stall.
- A misleading instrument panel marking regarding a recovery parachute could have caused a fatal distraction during an emergency.