Accident to the Air Creation GTE 503S / MILD 16 identified 17KB on 17/07/2020 at Expiremont microlight strip

Cat. 2 investigation report: simplified-format report, adapted to the circumstances of the occurrence and the investigation stakes.

The pilot, who had obtained his pilot’s certificate around a week earlier, carried out his first solo flight on the pendulum ultralight he had acquired a few months previously. He took off facing north and made a right-hand runway circuit. After a go-around, the pilot performed a second, left-hand circuit. In the base leg, the pendulum ultralight entered a tight left turn, fell almost vertically and collided with the ground.
The accident occurred while the pilot was carrying out runway circuits, probably to get used to his pendulum ultralight. During the start of the turn in the base leg, the left wing clearly stalled. The low height at which he was flying made it difficult for the pilot to regain control of the pendulum ultralight or to effectively use his emergency parachute.
The investigation was unable to determine if the engine had shut down in flight prior to loss of control. Based on the condition of the engine propeller, this hypothesis cannot be ruled out.