Accident to the Cessna 152 registered F-GVAX on 28/03/2021 at Yvrac (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

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

On returning from a local flight, the pilot, accompanied by a passenger, flew overhead the aerodrome before descending to join the downwind leg for runway 11[1].
During the final, carried out into the sun, the pilot, believing he was a little above the slope, slightly reduced power. On landing, the aeroplane touched the runway hard and then bounced. The pilot eased the stick forward and, on the second touchdown, the front gear broke then the propeller contacted the ground.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Pilot information

The 59-year-old pilot held a LAPL (A) private pilot licence for light aeroplane issued on 5 August 2020. At the time of the occurrence, he had logged 135 flight hours on type.

2.2 Weather information

The Bordeaux-Mérignac aerodrome automatic METAR, located about 10 NM west of Bordeaux-Yvrac aerodrome, indicated at 11:00[2]:
- wind from 130° at 9 kt,
- CAVOK,
- temperature of 16 °C.
At 11:00, the sun was at an azimuth of 121° and at a height of 31.6° in the sky.

2.3 Pilot’s statement

The pilot indicated that he was hindered by the position of the sun, opposite the final, which impaired his assessment of the height on short final. He considered that as a consequence, he was late in performing the flare.