Accident to the Bellanca 17-30 Viking registered F-BRSV on 23/06/2020 at Pontoise Cormeilles-en-Vexin (Val-d'Oise)

Cat. 3 investigation report: report concerning an occurrence with limited consequences, based on one or more statements not independently validated by the BEA.

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in May 2021. 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 pilot. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA

1 - HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

The pilot took off from Rouen Vallée de Seine aerodrome, bound for Pontoise Cormeilles-en-Vexin aerodrome.
As the destination aerodrome was using the A/A frequency, the pilot carried out a flyover and chose runway 12[1] for landing.
On final, the aeroplane configured for landing was stable and on the centreline.
After the flare, contact with the ground was abnormally hard. The aeroplane bounced and the pilot lost control. After a second bounce, the nose gear collapsed and the aeroplane came to rest at the left edge of the runway.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Aerodrome information

Pontoise Cormeilles-en-Vexin aerodrome has two paved runways. At the time of the occurrence, runway 05/23 was closed due to mowing nearby. Only runway 12/30 was useable.

2.2 Weather information

According to the Pontoise Cormeilles-en-Vexin aerodrome METAR at 15:30, the weather conditions were as follows: wind 070 at 09 kt, CAVOK, temperature 28 °C, dew point temperature 10 °C, QNH 1022 hPa.

2.3 Pilot information

The 76-year-old pilot, holder of a PPL(A) licence, had logged 972 flight hours, 434 hours of which were on the Bellanca Viking. In the three months before the accident, he had logged three flight hours, all on the Bellanca Viking. He had owned F-BRSV since 1998.
He explained that the aeroplane was probably destabilized by a downdraft during the flare. He specified that he should have then performed a go-around.