Accident to the Aquila AT01 registered F-HBRJ on 28/04/2022 at l'Île d'Yeu

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in December 2022. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference.

Note: the following information is principally based on statements made by the student pilot. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

The student pilot took off from runway 32[1] at l’Île d'Yeu aerodrome to carry out three supervised solo runway circuits. During the landing at the end of the third runway circuit, the aeroplane bounced. The nose gear touched down first during the second bounce and broke. The aeroplane came to a stop in the grass, next to the left edge of the runway.

2. Additional information

The 25-year-old student pilot was training for the PPL(A) licence. She had logged 27 flight hours, of which 2 hours in the last 3 months. This was her third solo flight.

Her instructor stated that her training was going well.

Based on the flight manual, the final approach speed with the flaps extended to the second flap detent is 60 kt.

The student pilot stated that on the final leg, the approach speed was 70 kt and the flaps were extended. She thought that this excessive approach speed contributed to the bounces. She added that the wind from 320° of 6 to 10 kt had not contributed to the event.

She explained she had “a slight lack of clear-headedness” during the third runway circuit, probably due to the tiredness accumulated during her working day. She stated that she should have taken her tiredness into account and stopped her flight in time.