What happened
On September 17, 2008, at approximately 16:00, a Zlin Aviation Savage ultralight, identified as 58-HL, was performing a flight near Hautefaye, France. The aircraft, operated privately, had departed from Nevers earlier that morning and landed at the Hautefaye ultralight airfield for a midday break. Following lunch and refueling, the pilot attempted to perform low-altitude maneuvers to bid farewell to local hosts.
During the takeoff from runway 02, immediately after rotation, the aircraft experienced a sudden and significant pitch-up attitude. Witnesses observed the aircraft banking to the right at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees, followed by a quarter-turn and a more pronounced left bank with an increasing pitch. The aircraft then dived into the ground at an altitude estimated to be less than 100 feet. The impact caused the aircraft to be destroyed by a post-crash fire. The accident resulted in one fatality (the pilot) and one serious injury (the passenger).
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of the 58-HL and found no mechanical anomalies that could have caused the accident. While it could not be determined if the pilot suffered a sudden incapacitation, the passenger indicated that the maneuvers were intended as a low-level flyby.
To understand the aircraft's stability, investigators weighed a different Zlin Aviation Savage with an identical configuration. This test revealed that the center of gravity was positioned behind the manufacturer's specified limits. The investigation established that the presence of two occupants, combined with the installation of an emergency parachute, shifted the center of gravity excessively toward the rear.