What happened
On December 27, 2011, a Cessna 150K, registration F-OIJQ, was conducting a private pilot license practical flight test. The flight began at Martinique Aimé Césaire airport, with a subsequent stop in Guadeloupe. During the return leg, north of Martinique, the flight examiner instructed the student pilot to perform a simulated forced landing exercise.
Following an initial attempt, the examiner identified a suitable field to the right, near the slopes of Montagne Pelée, and requested a second attempt. At an altitude of approximately 500 feet, the examiner called for a go-around. However, the aircraft failed to climb and continued to lose altitude despite the engine being at full throttle. The examiner took control and attempted a left turn to execute a turnaround. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled to the left and struck the ground in a heavily sloping field.
The examiner sustained serious injuries, while the student pilot suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine's performance during the go-around and the flight conditions. Investigators examined the engine's ignition system, specifically the magnetos and spark plugs. Analysis of the wreckage showed the left wing struck the ground first, followed by the propeller cone and then the right wing, indicating a high vertical descent rate and a left-wing-low attitude.
Technical inspections of the engine components revealed evidence of carbonization on the left magneto's distributor. Additionally, the investigation noted that the aircraft's maintenance schedule had been exceeded; the aircraft had surpassed the required intervals for several scheduled inspections, including the 50-hour, 100-hour, and 200-hour checks, meaning it was no longer in a strictly airworthy condition according to maintenance regulations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a failure of the left magneto, which resulted in a significant reduction in maximum available engine power during the critical go-around phase.
- The flight examiner placed the aircraft in a high-risk environment by performing a low-altitude maneuver near steep terrain without sufficient safety margins for a mechanical failure.
- The pilot's decision to execute a turnaround in a mountainous area while experiencing reduced power led directly to the left-wing stall.
- The aircraft was operating with overdue maintenance inspections, which impacted its regulatory airworthiness.