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Accident to the Cirrus SR20 registered N179CD on 01/05/2016 at Ile d'Yeu (Pays de la Loire)

Rebonds lors de l’atterrissage, rupture du train d’atterrissage avant

Responsible entity

France - BEA

Investigation progression Closed
Progress: 100%

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

During the landing on runway 32[1], the aeroplane bounced twice. According to the pilot, the second time, the main landing gear wheels made hard contact with the runway and he immediately felt strong vibrations in the aeroplane. His control inputs seemed ineffective and the aeroplane's pitch decreased. The nose gear broke on the third contact with the runway. The aeroplane continued its path and came to rest 650 m from the threshold of runway 32, slightly to the right of the runway centreline.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Pilot information

The pilot, holder of a PPL(A) private pilot licence, had logged 1,185 flight hours, 156 hours of which were in the Cirrus. He had flown 4 hours and 40 minutes in the three months prior to the accident, of which 3 hours and 25 minutes in the Cirrus (the last flight check with instructor in the Cirrus was in February 2016).
The pilot had already landed several times at Île d'Yeu aerodrome, including seven times in two years flying N179CD. He indicated that his approach airspeed was about 85 kt with the flaps in the landing position. He considered that the first time the main landing gear wheels made contact with the runway was not hard and that the plane did not bounce very high. He added that he immediately maintained the aeroplane's pitch while waiting for the next touchdown, thinking it would go normally.
He explained that he had already had a bounced landing with the Cirrus, notably in gusty winds. He was surprised by the violence of the second bounce.

2.2 Aeroplane information

The aeroplane operating manual recommends landing with the flaps in the landing position (100%, equivalent to 32 degrees) and with an airspeed of 75 kts.

2.3 Weather information

The weather conditions reported by the pilot were as follows: wind approximately on the runway centreline at 5 kt, CAVOK, temperature +14°C, dew point temperature +3°C, QNH 1030. The pilot stated that there was no turbulence on the approach.
When the AFIS agent took up his duty at 09:00, the wind was 020° for 7 kt.


[1] Paved runway 1,220 x 25 m, LDA 1220 m.