More fear than harm.
And even.
“I didn't even have time to feel apprehensive, I had to concentrate on the maneuvers and then the automation took over.”
Fortunately, Patrick, 76 years old, is considered an experienced pilot within the ACDF flying club.
This Wednesday at the beginning of the afternoon, at the controls of a tourist plane, he had to face a particularly dangerous situation since his plane suffered an engine failure just after takeoff.
He managed to land in a field a few kilometers from the Meaux-Esbly aerodrome, near Nanteuil-lès-Meaux.
“The municipal police alerted me.
Everything went well.
The pilot is not injured and the plane is unharmed,” breathes Régis Sarazin (SE), the mayor.
Patrick confirms.
“I was leaving for a flight east of Meaux,” he says.
After takeoff, the engine began to lose power, to the point where I could count the propeller blades.
And then he stopped altogether.
» The septuagenarian, who has more than 450 hours of flight under his belt, first tries to apply the usual maneuvers to restart the engine.
In vain, he has to resolve to locate a field, far from any homes, not far from the junction of the A140 leading to the A4 motorway.
“I spotted a corner near the Poullain garden center, I focused on my speed and landed safely.
We are trained to deal with these kinds of situations but this is the first time this has happened to me in real life.
» Patrick Monbrun, president of the Meaux-Esbly aerodrome users' group, recalls that each pilot must pass a test every two years to validate their license.
“It’s a one-hour flight with an instructor who puts you through every possible breakdown.
Even if engine failure is rare, we are prepared to manage this type of incident.
»
The plane in question, a four-seater Piper PA28 Cadet with a 160 horsepower engine, will be dissected so that it can be repatriated to the airfield by road.
The gendarmes from the air transport brigade are responsible for the investigation and have already interviewed the pilot.
“An aircraft engine manufacturer estimates that potentially, there could be a breakdown every 5,000 flight hours,” indicates Patrick Monbrun.
“We now need to know why the engine stopped,” explains Patrick, who says he can't wait to get back on track.
“So far, so good, but maybe tonight the subconscious will work,” he concedes.