Accident to the Cessna 172 S registered F-HJOC on 11/02/2022 at Lille - Marcq-en-Barœul (Nord)

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 April 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 pilot and the aerodrome operator. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1 - HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, took off from Persan-Beaumont aerodrome at around 15:40 bound for Lille-Marcq-en-Barœul. He planned to pick up someone there and then return to the departure aerodrome.
The pilot, who was aware of a NOTAM indicating that the destination aerodrome was reserved for home-based aircraft or aircraft authorised by the aerodrome operator, called the operator in flight at around 15:50 to inform him of his intention to come.
On arriving at point N[1] of Lille-Lesquin airport, which he had identified as an alternate aerodrome, the pilot continued towards Lille-Marcq-en-Barœul aerodrome to acquaint himself with the aerodrome conditions.
When he arrived overhead the aerodrome, the pilot saw an aircraft landing on runway 25 without incident. Considering that the runway conditions were thus good, he joined the aerodrome circuit at the beginning of the downwind leg.
During the landing, the aeroplane's nose wheel sank into the soft ground and the aeroplane made a left-hand ground loop. During the loss of control, the aeroplane's wingtips and propeller were damaged.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Pilot information

The 29-year-old pilot held a private pilot license for aeroplanes issued in 2019. On the day of the accident, he had logged 174 flight hours, of which 31 hours were on type.

2.2 Aerodrome information

Lille-Marcq-en-Barœul aerodrome has two intersecting grass runways. The aerodrome Visual Approach Chart does not mention any restriction in the use of these runways.
As the aerodrome's runways are not drained, the ground usually becomes muddy in the winter. Every year, a NOTAM is issued to limit their use to the home-based aircraft or those authorised by the operator. During this period, the aeroclub and the microlight company based there relocate to Lille-Lesquin airport because of the degraded condition of the surfaces. Only a few pilots, owners of their aircraft use the aerodrome.
On the day of the event, the following NOTAM was in force:

LFFA-E0328/22
Q) LFFF/QFALT/IV/NBO/ A/000/999/5041N00305E005
A) LFQO LILLE MARCQ EN BAROEUL
B) 2022 Feb 01 00:00 C) 2022 Feb 28 23:59
E) AD RESERVE AUX AERONEFS BASES OU AUTORISES PAR LE GESTIONNAIRE / RESERVED FOR HOME-BASED AIRCRAFT OR AUTHORIZED BY OPERATOR

Photographs taken immediately after the accident show muddy furrows made by the aeroplane’s wheels in the grassy ground of the runway.

2.3 Meteorological information

The METAR for Lille-Lesquin airport located 15 km from the accident site, indicated at 16:30:
- wind from variable direction at 3 kt,
- CAVOK,
- temperature of 8°C.

2.4 Pilot’s statement

The pilot stated that, during his telephone conversation with the operator's representative, the latter told him that the aerodrome ground conditions were not good, without formally forbidding him to use it.
The pilot added that the aircraft he had seen landing without difficulty on runway 25 could have caused a confirmation bias with respect to the possibility of landing at Lille-Marcq-en-Barœul aerodrome. He learned after the accident that this aircraft was a microlight.
The pilot stated that explicit information about the degraded condition of the runways in winter on the Lille Marcq-en-Barœul Visual Approach Chart would help to take better account of the risk.

2.5 Operator’s statement

The representative indicated that when he informed the pilot that the condition of the aerodrome runways was not good due to the rain of the last few months, the latter replied that he took responsibility for landing on the aerodrome because he had to pick up a person there. The representative replied, "It’s not the way it works." As the telephone connection was poor, the pilot told him that he would call him back. The representative stated that he was never contacted again.
He added that, as the pilot had not contacted him again on the day of the accident, he did not know the identity of the pilot or the type and registration of the aircraft. When a clearance is given to a non-based aircraft, the operator sends an e-mail to the based users with the identity of the pilot and the aircraft registration.
During January and February 2022, the operator had not granted any landing clearance for a non-based aircraft, with the exception of a helicopter on 18 January 2022. A pilot who wished to ferry an aircraft for maintenance to Lille Marcq-en-Barœul aerodrome requested authorisation each week, which was refused each time by the operator due to the aerodrome conditions.