Accident to the Robin DR400 - 140B registered F-GSBS on 12/09/2020 at Col du Pas de la Coche, Belledonne Massif (Isère)
Passage au second régime, collision avec le relief, feu post-impact, lors d’un vol BIA, en montagne
Cat. 2 investigation report: simplified-format report, adapted to the circumstances of the occurrence and the investigation stakes.
During a flight in a mountainous area, the pilot, accompanied by two passengers as part of their preparation for the BIA, entered a valley at an altitude below the ridge line and the pass located at the end of the valley. Moreover, the environment, in particular the presence of power lines in the centre of the valley, interfered with a turn-around manoeuvre. Needing to gain altitude to be able to clear the pass, the pilot most probably gradually increased the aeroplane's pitch attitude. This action led to a gradual decrease in the aeroplane’s speed and climb performance. The evolution in the calculated flight parameters showed that the aeroplane was probably flying on the backside of the power curve during the last two minutes of flight. When arriving at the pass at the end of the valley, and realising that she would not be able to clear it, the pilot probably attempted to turn around to the left, a manoeuvre during which she lost control of the aeroplane.