Accident to the microlight Tecnam P92 identified 01VA on 30/09/2021 at Saint-Rambert-d'Albon

The pilot carried out a local flight of around 46 min. A fuel leak during the flight due to the incorrect positioning of the fuel strainer seal meant that the fuel tanks progressively drained in an abnormal way (average engine consumption plus leak). In initial climb, the engine power decreased. The pilot turned right. During the turn, the microlight stalled and collided with the ground.

If the fuel strainer seal had been incorrectly positioned during a previous flight, the pilot would have been able to detect the consequences. However, the latter did not report any abnormal engine operation or over-consumption of fuel. It is therefore very likely that the fuel strainer was opened and its seal incorrectly repositioned prior to the accident flight, either during the pre-flight inspection or following the penultimate flight.

The investigation could not determine whether the pilot was aware of the reduction in engine power and whether the turn observed by the witness was a standard aerodrome circuit or an attempt to join the aerodrome for a landing on the reciprocal QFU.