What happened
On August 24, 2007, a Jodel D 19 ultralight, registration 82-DC, was performing a local flight from Montauban aerodrome. Shortly after departing from runway 14, the pilot noted that the aircraft struggled to gain altitude. In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing in a nearby open field perpendicular to the runway axis. During the maneuver, the aircraft entered a stall and struck the ground with significant force, sliding approximately 40 meters before coming to a halt. The impact resulted in minor injuries to the pilot and caused heavy damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the elevator trim was set in a nose-up position, though its exact configuration prior to impact could not be confirmed. No mechanical failures or other technical anomalies were identified that could have contributed to the accident. The aircraft was also noted to be lacking a stall warning system.
Regarding the flight parameters, the investigation established that the aircraft was operating in a high-drag state. The high angle of attack induced significant drag, preventing the aircraft from accelerating. Furthermore, weight and balance calculations revealed that the aircraft's mass exceeded its maximum allowable limit by approximately five kilograms.
Findings
- The pilot failed to sufficiently account for the takeoff conditions, specifically regarding the aircraft's weight.
- The pilot lacked familiarity with the flight characteristics associated with flying in the second regime (high-drag/high-angle of attack state).
- The induced drag from the high angle of attack prevented the aircraft from maintaining sufficient airspeed, leading to the stall.