What happened
On the morning of June 8, 2018, an AIR COPTER A3C-T gyrocopter crashed into a wooded area approximately 600 meters from the Matagne-la-Petite airfield (EBMG) in Belgium. The aircraft's owner, an 81-year-old pilot, took off from the airfield while it was closed and without notifying anyone of his flight plans. The wreckage was discovered the following morning by authorities. The impact resulted in 1 fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators reconstructed the flight timeline using data from the engine's Turbocharger Control Unit (TCU), which indicated the accident occurred very shortly after takeoff. The investigation revealed that the pilot had been running the engine for approximately 17 minutes prior to departure.
Technical examination of the wreckage uncovered several mechanical issues. The propeller hub showed surface damage from a previous incident, and the flight control linkages exhibited excessive play, which could lead to imprecise control. Furthermore, the engine's TCU had recorded over-temperature events, suggesting that engine maintenance was inadequate. The investigation also noted that while the pilot held a French ultralight license, he had not obtained the necessary authorization from the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority to operate the foreign-registered aircraft within Belgian airspace.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight, though the specific trigger—whether engine failure, excessive vibrations, or pilot incapacitation—could not be definitively determined.
- Mechanical deficiencies, including imprecise pitch and roll control due to loose linkages and vibrations from a damaged propeller, likely contributed to the loss of control.
- Poor engine maintenance and failure to monitor engine performance may have led to an engine failure.
- The pilot's advanced age and the lack of a required recurrent aeromedical examination (which is mandatory for Belgian-licensed pilots but not for those under French regulations) were identified as potential contributing factors to pilot incapacitation.