A phase of the investigation into the accident on 9 August 2007, off the coast of Moorea (French Polynesia) to the Twin Otter, registered F-OIQI and operated by Air Moorea, has reached its conclusion with today’s publication of an Interim Report.

This report describes the work that has been undertaken during the first few months of the investigation, including the undersea searches and the examinations of various parts of the wreckage, and confirms that the loss of control of the airplane occurred at the time of flap retraction. The report presents all of the facts established up to this point in time. It gives details of the findings relating to the elevator control cables, namely the areas with significant wear and a failure, in the rear section, in one of these areas.

As a result of these findings, and without any relation between this failure and the accident having been established at this stage of the investigation, the BEA recommended, on 9 October 2007, the inspection of the control cables installed on some aircraft in the worldwide Twin Otter fleet.

The investigation is continuing.