Accident to the Robin DR400 registered F-GREP on 26/10/2024 at Pérouges

After a take-off run that seemed normal to him, the pilot made an input on the stick to initiate rotation. The aeroplane had an aft centre of gravity and the elevator trim in the nose-up position beyond the aft limit for take-off.

The input made by the pilot on the elevator control caused an unusual and excessive variation in nose-up attitude. The aeroplane’s tail skid made contact with the ground. The aeroplane then had an extreme nose-up attitude which meant that it could no longer accelerate. The aeroplane remained on the backside of the power curve and bounced several times.

The pilot, focused on the presence of a ditch at the end of the runway (without remembering that this had been filled in a few days before), did not attempt to reject the take-off. He continued with his action plan, even though he had overrun the runway and was running in the ploughed field at the end of the runway. On striking a stone, the aeroplane deviated from its path, it skidded and its nose landing gear collapsed, putting an end to the take-off attempt.