Accident to the Piper PA19 registered F-HLOG on 23/08/2021 at Marcq-en-Barœul

Back from a local flight with a passenger, the pilot carried out a touch-and-go.

It is probable that the final rupture of a component inside the crankcase occurred after power was increased to take off again. This rupture in line with a crankshaft bearing was caused by previous fatigue-cracking type damage. The rupture probably generated vibrations and affected the oil system inside the engine, which gave rise to excess oil in a cylinder, generating smoke which escaped via the exhaust, as observed by several witnesses.

This engine fault was probably detected by the pilot as on the crosswind leg, the pilot announced that he was going to fly a "short circuit". No distress or emergency message was transmitted.

Before the turn onto the downwind leg, the engine speed decreased. This was either the result of a pilot input or the engine fault. The pilot lost control of the aeroplane during the turn.