EASA grounds all Elixir aircraft

The aircraft crashed October 1 near the runway at Rochefort Charente-Maritime Airport in France, according to local news reports. Elixir Aircraft issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB-633-005-R01, grounding all Elixir airplanes, and EASA followed with the emergency airworthiness directive October 2. The AD applies to all serial numbers.

"Based on all available information, EASA considers that further actions may be necessary to ensure the continued airworthiness of Elixir aeroplanes," the AD says, adding that the AD is considered an interim action and further AD action may follow.

On October 8, the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety released additional information about the accident, explaining that the crew had completed two runway circuits over the airport before one of the pilots requested a low-altitude circuit. On the turn to final for Runway 12, the left flap detached from the aircraft and the pilot lost control; the airframe parachute was deployed at a low altitude and the aircraft collided with the ground, according to the BEA.

Elixir Aircraft was founded in 2015 in La Rochelle, France, to develop the composite trainer for professional pilot training. The aircraft earned certification under EASA CS 23 in 2020 and FAR Part 23 in 2025, and U.S. deliveries began this summer. More than 60 aircraft are flying worldwide. The trainer has a spin-resistant wing and incorporates such safety features as a ballistic parachute and a fuel tank lined with explosive-suppressant foam. AOPA flew the Elixir+ Essential for a story in the November 2026 issue of AOPA Pilot.