What happened
On July 22, 2012, during an airshow at the Couhé-Vérac aerodrome, a pilot was performing a simulated aerial combat maneuver against another aircraft, an R.A.F. S.E.5. The two aircraft were flying on a tight, circular trajectory with a steep left bank at an estimated altitude of 150 meters. Witnesses observed that after several laps, the S.E.5 aircraft exited the formation, while the Fokker DR1 continued to turn before entering a steep dive. The aircraft struck the ground and caught fire, resulting in the death of the pilot and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's handling characteristics, and the oversight of the airshow program. The pilot was highly experienced in general and helicopter flight, with advanced aerobatic qualifications, but had only accumulated 8 hours and 45 minutes of flight time on the Fokker DR1 replica. This aircraft, registered F-AZAQ, was a unique reproduction with no official flight manual and possessed specific handling characteristics, particularly regarding yaw and rudder control.
Investigators also reviewed the airshow's regulatory compliance. While the pilot's credentials met the minimum regulatory requirements, the flight presentation description provided to the flight director was vague, simply stating "aerial combat simulation." Evidence suggested the specific maneuvers were not precisely established and were subject to improvisation. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot's recent experience had been exclusively on a much more powerful Pitts S-2B, which may have influenced his handling of the less powerful Fokker replica.
Findings
- The pilot likely exceeded the flight envelope of the Fokker DR1 during a high-bank maneuver.
- The pilot's recent experience on a high-performance Pitts S-2B may have led to an incorrect assessment of the limits of the Fokker DR1.
- The lack of a detailed flight program and the improvised nature of the demonstration prevented the flight director from identifying and mitigating the risks associated with the maneuver.
- The flight presentation documentation provided insufficient detail for the flight director to assess the specific risks of the proposed maneuvers.