Accident to the Robin DR400 registered F-BUHI on 06/08/2022 at Mimizan

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 pilot. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

The pilot carried out a cross-country flight between Biarritz and Mimizan aerodromes, accompanied by two passengers. He stated that the aeroplane had an aft centre of gravity within the weight and balance limits given in the flight manual.

During the landing on runway 08[1], just after the front wheel touchdown, he felt the aeroplane oscillate sideways and then start to veer to the right. He pushed the stick to unlock the nose gear[2] and make the rudder pedal input effective again, as he had been taught in training.

The aeroplane's path became controllable once more and the pilot brought the aeroplane back to the centre of the runway. The aeroplane deviated to the right again: the pilot pushed firmly on the stick. He explained that his rudder inputs were ineffective.

The aeroplane veered off the runway on a path oriented approximately 45° to the right. It crossed a ditch, which tore off the nose gear followed by the two main landing gears a few metres further on, before coming to rest in the grass.

2. Additional information

2.1 Pilot information

The 38-year-old pilot held an aeroplane private pilot licence issued in July 2021. At the time of the accident, he had logged 107 flight hours, including 49 h on the DR400. He had flown 2 h and 22 min in the previous three months, including 40 min on type.

2.2. Meteorological information

The pilot explained that the conditions were CAVOK, with no wind.

2.3. "Wheelbarrowing »

In 1968, the FAA issued an advisory circular[3] on "wheelbarrowing" and addressed the subject in Chapter 9 of its Airplane Flying Handbook[4]: this is a phenomenon that can be encountered on tricycle gear aeroplanes when the main landing gear is lightly loaded, especially when there is forward pressure on the stick. The nose gear is then in firm contact with the runway, which makes it bear a greater share of the aeroplane's weight while being the means of steering. Under these conditions, braking effectiveness and the ability to control the aeroplane on the ground are significantly reduced.

One practice in the DR400 is to ensure that the nose wheel is actually unlocked by putting the elevator control in the forward sector, which adds weight to the nose gear and takes weight off the main landing gear. The pilot's firm stick input during the landing run may have resulted in wheelbarrowing.

November 2022