Accident to the Cessna 208 registered F-GUTS on 25/04/2024 at Gap-Tallard

On arriving at the aerodrome after a ferry flight of approximately 1 h 30 min, the pilot joined the circuit for runway 02. The wind had a tailwind component for landings on this runway, but the pilot did not want to hamper a parachute drop aeroplane, also on the circuit for runway 02. In the downwind leg, the propeller feathered due to a malfunction in the propeller pitch governor.

The pilot performed a close base leg. Ultimately he was too high on final and flew over the runway at a height of around 185 ft before making a forced landing in a field near the runway.

The malfunction of the propeller governor was the result of the propeller reversing lever being incorrectly installed during the last maintenance operation performed on the aeroplane, a little less than two months before the accident flight.