An accelerometer sensor and method of controlling the sensor, the accelerometer sensor including at least one electrostatic pendular accelerometer having stationary first and second electrodes fastened to a housing and connected to an exciter circuit, and a third electrode carried by a pendulum connected to the housing, thereby being movable and being connected to a detector circuit. The exciter circuit has an output connected to a switch connected to the first and second electrodes, the switch having a first connection position and a second connection position for selectively connecting the first or second electrode to the exciter circuit. The detector circuit, the exciter circuit, the switch, and the detector circuit are connected to a control circuit arranged so the first and second electrodes are excited by pulse trains, thus keeping the pendulum in a setpoint position and determining an acceleration to which the pendulum is subjected.