No fatalities

Emergency Landing After Propeller Auto-Feathering at Cherbourg-Maupertus (85)

Cherbourg-Maupertus, FranceTakeoff (climb)

On January 17, 1979, a Nord 262 (registration 85) operated by French Navy (Aéronavale - Marine Nationale) was involved in an aviation accident near Cherbourg-Maupertus, France during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing after one propeller mistakenly auto-feathered during initial climb. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781225678Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced engine problems shortly after takeoff from Cherbourg-Maupertus Airport, leading to a crash landing in a field. No casualties occurred. The incident was caused by a propeller auto-feathering mistakenly.

Incident Summary

Shortly after departing from Cherbourg-Maupertus Airport, the aircraft encountered engine difficulties during its initial climb. The crew promptly initiated an emergency landing procedure due to the loss of engine performance. The aircraft crash landed in an open field adjacent to the airport and came to rest. Fortunately, there were no casualties resulting from the incident.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined the probable cause of the incident. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing after one propeller mistakenly auto-feathered during the initial climb. This malfunction led to a reduction in thrust, necessitating the emergency landing in the field.

Location

The emergency landing occurred in an open field near Cherbourg-Maupertus Airport, where the aircraft came to rest without further incident.