What happened
On May 5, 2014, at approximately 16:55, a pilot departed from the Erkelenz-Kückhoven ultralight airfield for a local sightseeing flight. During the flight, witnesses observed a low-flying aircraft traveling in a northerly direction at around 17:50. Observers noted a sputtering engine sound, reporting that the engine briefly failed before restarting, which caused the aircraft to gain some altitude momentarily.
The impact itself was not witnessed by bystanders. The DynAero MCR-USL came to rest on its back in a potato field located approximately 2.4 km north of the airfield. The crash resulted in the pilot being seriously injured and the total destruction of the aircraft. There was also damage to the ground at the site.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, which was registered in France, had a total flight time of 937 hours. While the pilot was experienced, with 702 total flight hours, the BFU noted that maintenance records for the aircraft were unavailable for review.
Physical examination of the wreckage revealed significant structural damage. The fuselage was deformed and broken in several places, with the forward section destroyed up to the wing roots. The right wing had separated from the fuselage, and the horizontal stabilizer had been torn from the vertical stabilizer. Investigators found fuel in the fuel lines and pump, which had leaked from the ruptured tank into the soil. No technical defects were identified on the wreckage, and the spark plugs showed a grey to light brown color. No fire occurred at the scene.