What happened
On the morning of July 18, 1999, a Mignet HM 1100 Cordouan ultralight, identified as WHM 52, was performing a local flight from the Belvès aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, when the aircraft had reached an altitude of approximately one meter, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The flight ended when the aircraft veered into a ditch.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the structural failure that occurred during the initial climb. It was established that the left-hand wings folded backward at the moment of takeoff. Upon examining the aircraft's configuration, investigators determined that the locking pin for the wing assembly had not been installed. The pilot subsequently confirmed that this critical step had been missed during the pre-flight inspection.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the incomplete preparation of the aircraft prior to flight.
- The pilot failed to notice the absence of the wing locking pin during the pre-flight walk-around.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage as a result of the impact in the ditch.