Serious incident to the Beechcraft C90A registered F-HHAM on 23/05/2022 near Paris-Le Bourget AD

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The pilot took off from Ancenis aerodrome bound for Paris - Le Bourget airport for an own-account flight. On arriving in the sector, he was cleared to make an ILS approach to runway 27. While he was approaching to intercept the ILS localizer with the AP engaged, the aeroplane turned right and crossed the approach path perpendicular to it.

The tests carried out on the avionics systems did not reveal any anomaly that could explain why the AP did not acquire the approach path. The pilot had no memory of this sequence or his inputs.

The controller immediately became aware of the aeroplane's path deviation leading to a conflict with an A320 which was located at the same altitude as F-HHAM and on approach to runway 27R at Paris - Charles de Gaulle airport. He then asked the pilot of F-HHAM to turn immediately onto a heading of 180° and the crew of the A320 to turn onto a heading of 360°.

During the manoeuvre, the pilot of F-HHAM lost control of the aeroplane, the altitude of which fell by around 3,000 ft in approximately fifteen seconds. During this uncontrolled descent, F HHAM flew close to another A320 on approach to runway 26L at Paris - Charles de Gaulle airport.

It is likely that the crossing of the approach path and the subsequent loss of control were the result of inappropriate inputs by the pilot following a subtle incapacitation possibly linked
to hypoglycaemia.

The pilot then managed to regain control of the aeroplane and to continue the flight. He noticed inconsistencies in the indications of the instruments located on the right side and on the left side, which gradually disappeared during the end of the flight. Examinations carried out on the aeroplane's equipment were unable to explain the anomalies reported.

BEA is the French air safety investigation authority for civil aviation. The sole objective of the investigation is to improve air safety. It is intended neither to apportion blame nor to assess responsiblity.