What happened
On May 4, 2008, a Yakovlev Yak 54, registration RA-3332K, departed from Beauvais airport for a local flight. While performing aerobatic maneuvers at an extremely low altitude, the pilot executed a loop near the village of Longchamps. During the recovery phase of the maneuver, the aircraft encountered low-voltage power lines. Although the pilot attempted to regain altitude and cleared the rooftops of nearby houses, the aircraft entered a descent and struck a field. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that destroyed much of the wreckage. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path, the pilot's experience, and the technical condition of the engine. Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure prior to impact. The engine was found to have been functioning at the moment of impact, though it was delivering low power. The investigation also looked into the pilot's qualifications, noting that while he was an experienced aerobatic pilot on other Yakovlev models, he lacked a specific type rating for the Yak 54. Additionally, the investigation scrutinized the airworthiness status of the aircraft, as its certificates were issued by the Federation of Private Aviators of Russia (FLA), an organization whose official accreditation status was uncertain at the time.
Findings
- The accident was caused by a loss of control during low-altitude aerobatic maneuvers.
- A sudden avoidance maneuver, likely an instinctive reaction to the nearby power lines and houses, induced a dynamic stall.
- The pilot's limited experience specifically with the Yak 54 may have led him to underestimate the aircraft's handling characteristics during high-G maneuvers.
- The maneuvers were performed below the 500-foot minimum altitude required for VFR flight and outside of designated aerobatic zones.
- It is possible that the pilot experienced physiological impairment, such as G-induced loss of consciousness, due to the high positive and negative G-loads experienced during the tight loop.