Accident to the PS28 registered F-HXAM on 22/11/23 to Aix-les-Milles

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 statements made by the student pilot and the instructor who was on the ground.  This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

The student pilot who had logged 41 hours on type, carried out a first standard runway circuit with the instructor. The flight proceeded normally up to the full stop landing on runway 32 of Aix-Les Milles aerodrome. The wind was calm and the conditions CAVOK.

At the end of this flight, the instructor exited the aeroplane. The student took off alone to carry out several runway circuits. On short final during the first circuit, the aeroplane was low on the approach slope at a speed which was slightly too high (70 kt instead of 60 kt recommended by the flight manual). The student reduced power on passing over the runway threshold. The aeroplane touched down on the runway, bounced a first time and then a second time but harder, veered off the runway and finished its run in the grass.

The nose gear, engine cowling and propeller were damaged.

Figure 1: photo of aeroplane in grass (source: BEA)

2. Safety lessons

The student indicated that his approach was too fast and that the wheel touchdown was carried out too early causing the aeroplane to bounce. In hindsight, he should have waited for the speed to decrease while keeping the aeroplane in flight. The student added that he kept the stick in its position during the first bounce without increasing power.

The instructor reported that this aeroplane has a specificity with respect to its approach speed. He explained that its stall speed is 31 kt in the full flaps configuration but that the flight manual recommends a speed of 60 kt on final, well above 1.3 Vs. The pilot therefore has to absorb the speed before landing the aeroplane. He had taught this specificity to the student who, prior to the accident, had correctly carried it out.

March 2024