What happened
On Saturday, December 6, 1997, at 15:30, a Druine D 31 amateur-built aircraft, registration F-PJKD, was performing a local flight near Fontaine-lès-Clercs. During the final approach, the pilot initiated a go-around; however, during this maneuver, the engine lost power.
In response to the power loss, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a nearby field. Upon touchdown, the aircraft's landing gear collapsed, causing the plane to nose over and come to a stop on the soft ground. The aircraft sustained heavy damage during the incident. The pilot, who had significant experience on this type, was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was not injured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden loss of engine power during the critical go-around phase. Investigators examined the aircraft's engine, a 1150 cm3 Volkswagen automobile-type engine, to determine the source of the malfunction. The inquiry established that the engine's single magneto had failed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine power loss was a failure of the single magneto powering the engine.
- The investigation revealed that this magneto had not undergone a maintenance review or service for ten years.