What happened
On December 23, 2012, a Fournier RF6, registration F-GADT, departed from Biarritz Aerodrome for a local flight. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot began preparations for an approach to runway 27, following VFR procedures. During the approach, the pilot activated the carburetor heat and the fuel pump before reducing power and adjusting the flaps.
During this phase, the pilot experienced engine roughness. Despite several attempts to rectify the issue—including turning off the carburetor heat, checking the mixture control, and cycling the electric fuel pump—the engine continued to misfire. At an altitude of 1,200 feet, the pilot attempted to contact the tower controller to declare an emergency, but received no response. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway, the pilot opted to perform an emergency landing in a harvested cornfield. Due to the soft nature of the terrain, the aircraft came to a stop after a short distance, resulting in the failure of the nose gear and propeller damage.
The investigation
Technical examinations were conducted on the engine to identify the cause of the power loss. Investigators analyzed the engine components and operational parameters during the flight. The investigation also considered environmental factors, specifically the possibility of carburetor icing, by reviewing the temperature and dew point data recorded at the time of the incident.