What happened
On September 2, 2011, an Aeroprakt A22 Vision ultralight, identified as 49-VA, was performing training maneuvers at the Cholet Le Pontreau aerodrome. The flight, consisting of an instructor and a student, began with maneuvers on the paved runway before transitioning to low-altitude circuits on the adjacent grass runway.
During the second low-altitude circuit, the instructor intentionally shut down the engine at the start of the downwind leg to simulate a power loss. The engine was restarted toward the end of the downwind leg. However, during the final turn, the aircraft drifted past the runway centerline at a very low altitude with a steep right bank. The instructor took control only a few meters above the ground, applying left roll and full power. The aircraft subsequently struck the grass runway, hitting the left wing and then the right wing. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, bringing the aircraft to a halt. Witnesses noted that the final circuit was flown at a significantly reduced altitude and with a shortened trajectory compared to previous maneuvers.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight profiles, the instructor's credentials, and the operational environment. It was noted that the instructor had approximately 700 total flight hours, with 400 of those conducted in an instructional capacity. While the instructor had completed a knowledge update course in 2010, no flight check had been performed during that period.
Investigators reviewed radio transcripts, which revealed that the final circuit lasted less than one minute, whereas the preceding circuit had lasted approximately four and a half minutes. The instructor admitted to hastily preparing the training program only two days prior and acknowledged that fatigue played a role in the degraded flight conditions. Furthermore, the student reported a lack of communication between the crew members throughout the duration of the exercise.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the instructor's delayed takeover of the controls during an engine failure simulation that was conducted without sufficient safety margins.
- The lack of communication between the student and the instructor during the maneuver contributed to the late intervention.
- The instructor's fatigue was a contributing factor to the loss of control.