Accident to the Diamond DA40 registered F-GUVL on 26/06/2023 at Annecy

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation. 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 the pilot’s statement. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

From the taxiway, the pilot turned right and lined up at the end of paved runway 04[1] at Annecy-Meythet airport. He did not stop on the runway and increased power while pressing on the right pedal to counter the engine effects. During the run the aeroplane deviated to the right side of the runway. The pilot tried to correct the path. The aeroplane then deviated in the opposite direction and veered off the left side of the runway. The aeroplane continued its run on the grass, returned to the runway and struck a light indicating the displaced threshold of runway 04, before coming to a stop around 120 m after the end of the runway. The right landing gear was on the runway while the left landing gear was on the grass. The nose gear had ruptured, the tips of the three propeller blades had been torn off and the front section of the aeroplane’s lower fuselage was damaged.

2. Additional information

2.1. Meteorological information

The 14:30 Annecy-Meythet METAR indicated wind from 310° of 8 kt varying in direction between 250° and 040°, and the 15:00 METAR indicated wind from 300° of 6 kt varying in direction between 230° and 350°.

2.2. Pilot information and statement

The 59-year-old pilot held a LAPL(A) obtained on 9 March 2023. He had logged around 125 flight hours including 7 hours in the last 3 months and 105 hours in dual control, all on the DA40.

The pilot explained that he did not stop before increasing power because this was the usual practice in the flying club given the length of the runway, and also because air traffic control occasionally requested it due to traffic, and lastly because of a recent instruction from the flying club calling on pilots not to overheat the brakes (following an incipient fire on the right landing gear of the same aeroplane on 29 April 2023).

He stated that he had taken care to "keep his heels on the floor" when increasing the power so as not to apply the brakes.

The pilot indicated that, during the run on the runway and after the runway excursion, considering that take-off was still possible, his attention was focused on bringing the aeroplane back onto the runway. He therefore did not think about reducing power. He added that he may have been unconsciously trying to maintain sufficient speed and therefore power to keep the rudder effective, as the DA-40's nose wheel is not linked to the rudder pedals.