Accident to the Evektor Aerotechnik Sportstar RTC registered F-HATF on 16/08/2020 at Mulhouse Habsheim AD (Haut-Rhin)

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 October 2020. 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 student pilot’s and instructor’s statements. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA

1 - History of the flight

After two runway circuits in dual command at Mulhouse-Habsheim aerodrome, the weather conditions being favourable, the instructor suggested to his student that she perform a solo aerodrome circuit.

At around 13:45, the student pilot lined up and took off. She indicated that after she had extended the flaps to the second flap detent position, the final approach to runway 20[1] was stabilized on the slope and centreline, at an airspeed of 60 kt. As on the previous landings with her instructor, she took the threshold stripes as an aiming point.

The student pilot crossed the runway threshold, reduced power and bounced once. The aircraft then took a nose-down attitude and bounced a second time, hitting the runway hard. The nose gear collapsed, the propeller struck the ground and the aeroplane slid before coming to a halt on the left side of the runway.

2 - Additional information

2.1  Student pilot’s experience and statement

The 17-year-old student pilot had completed the 26 hours and 48 minutes of her training on the club’s two Evektor Aerotechnik. She had made her first 18-minute solo flight on 14 June 2020. Her last flight before the event was on 19 July 2020.

The student pilot reported that the weather was hot on the day of the event and that the air was a little turbulent.

During the landing, she felt she had flared at the correct height. She indicated that she did not hear a stall warning.

2.2  Instructor’s statement

The instructor said that he warned his student to be wary of the aircraft's behaviour, which, being lighter than when landing in dual command, could be different, especially during the flare.

The instructor monitored the flight from the flying club and was in radio contact with his student. He was able to observe the approach which seemed to be correct. Due to obstacles, he did not see the entire landing.

2.3  Meteorological information

The METAR for Basel-Mulhouse aerodrome (located about 15 km from the Mulhouse-Habsheim aerodrome), recorded at 12:00 UTC (14:00 local time) indicated the following:

Variable wind 4 kt, visibility above 10 km without cloud below a height of 5,000 ft, temperature of 30 °C, no significant change in the next two hours.