Accident to the Piper PA18 registered F-BNPI on 10/02/2022 at Gap-Tallard

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in September 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. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

After a local flight of two hours and twenty minutes, the pilot joined the runway circuit to land on paved runway 20 at Gap-Tallard aerodrome.

She indicated that the speed on final was 60 mph and 55 mph on short final. She thought that the landing was normal with a smooth three-point touchdown, with almost no vertical acceleration. 

Shortly after the touchdown she heard a noise that seemed to come from the tailwheel and the aeroplane yawed to the left. She countered this movement by applying right rudder input. The aeroplane then quickly moved to the right. The pilot reacted by applying left rudder input, but the aeroplane continued to yaw to the right. The pilot reported that she tried to regain control of the path by increasing her left rudder input but that the aeroplane continued to veer to the right.

The aeroplane made a fast turn around its yaw axis, veering of the right side of the runway. At the end of the turn, it rolled to the left. The left wingtip and the horizontal stabilizer made contact with the ground. The aeroplane then levelled off on its three wheels and came to rest in the grass.

2. Additional information

The weather conditions observed by the pilot during the landing were as follows:

- CAVOK ;
- calm wind.

The pilot held a private pilot licence (PPL-A) and had logged 500 flight hours on this aeroplane which she owned.

October 2022