Accident to the Elixir registered F-HOOD on 23/06/2024 at Chavenay-Villepreux AD
Hard landing, bounce, damage to roll control linkage and fracture of engine mount
The pilot landed with excess energy: the speed was more than 10 kt above that recommended in the flight manual and the approach slope was approximately 5° (8.7 %).
The aeroplane bounced on landing. The fractures and deformations in the roll control linkage indicated a hard landing. During the second contact with the ground, the engine mount broke, causing damage to the propeller.
Due to its design and how it is manufactured, the engine mount had a localized weakness at the welds of the upper steel tubes (see paragraph 2.7.2). The examinations carried out after the accident revealed two fatigue fractures.
No incipient fracture had been detected during the last maintenance check carried out 15 flight hours before the accident. The fractures were located in an area that was difficult to observe without the appropriate tools (e.g. a mirror).