Accident to the Robin DR400 registered F-GHKZ on 16/08/2023 at Andernos

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 and a passenger. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

The pilot, accompanied by three passengers, took off from runway 31[1] of Andernos-les-Bains aerodrome at around 14:30 for a local, cost-sharing flight.

During the final approach, he extended the flaps to the last detent and stabilized the approach speed at between 65 and 70 kt. He indicated that he completely reduced power when he arrived overhead the runway’s displaced threshold, i.e. “just before” the main gear touched down. The pilot then felt as if he was being drawn to the left. He made an input on the RH pedal to return to the centreline. The aeroplane then regained height to around one metre, before touching down hard on the runway. The nose gear bent backwards. The aeroplane slid and then came to a halt on the runway.

2. Additional information

2.1 Pilot information

The 71-year-old pilot held a PPL(A). He had logged 517 flight hours, all on the Robin DR400, and 24 hours in the previous three months.

He explained that he had looked at the aerodrome’s windsock when he joined the downwind leg. The windsock indicated at that time a headwind of 10 to 15 kt on the axis of runway 31 with small movements to the RH and LH sides.

2.2  Meteorological information

The 15:00 METAR for Bordeaux-Mérignac airport situated 15 NM to the east of Andernos-les-Bains aerodrome indicated a varying wind of 2 kt, CAVOK, temperature of 30°C, QNH 1016 hPa with no changes forecast for the following two hours.

2.3 Statements from passengers

The three passengers, all members of the same family, had no aeronautical experience. This flight was their first flight in a light aeroplane. Two of the three passengers indicated that they believed that the aeroplane had bounced twice.

2.4 Scope of flight information

The first contact between one of the three passengers and the pilot, a member of the Andernos flying club, had been via Wingly platform, two days before the accident. The flight had initially been planned for the day before the accident but the pilot had postponed it due to the meteorological conditions.

After the occurrence, the flying club indicated that it had made it compulsory to complete before 30 September 2023, an instruction flight focusing on the management of the landing in order to be able to carry out introductory flights or cost-sharing flights organised on Wingly.