Accident to the Robin DR400 registered F-HGAC on 10/05/24 at Metz Nancy Lorraine AD
Runway veer-off during a touch-and-go, in solo instruction
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 the student pilot’s statement. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.
1. History of the flight
The student pilot, unaccompanied, was going to carry out a triangular cross-country flight of at least 150 NM which is part of the training program for the PPL licence. For the planned flight, out of Doncourt-lès-Conflans aerodrome, three landings or touch-and-go landings were planned at Charleville - Mézières, Chambley and Metz – Nancy - Lorraine aerodromes. All the aerodromes were known to the pilot.
The first part of the cross-country flight proceeded without incident. The student pilot carried out a full-stop landing at Charleville - Mézières, then, after a short break, he took off bound for Chambley aerodrome where he carried out a touch-and-go. He then headed for Nancy - Metz - Lorraine airport with the intention of carrying out a touch-and-go landing before returning to Doncourt-lès-Conflans.
On the approach to the airport, he announced his arrival on the tower frequency. After passing point W, the controller gave him the wind information (060°/10 kt) and asked him if he could land on runway 22 due to a commercial traffic. The student pilot, aware that he was going to have a tailwind component, accepted and joined the downwind leg for a RH circuit for runway 22[1]. Considering that he was too close to the runway, he extended the downwind leg in order to have a long final. On final, he extended the flaps to the landing configuration and held an indicated airspeed not exceeding 130 km/h. The wheels touched down without incident but then the aeroplane deviated to the RH side. The student pilot corrected the path with an input on the LH pedal. At this point, the aeroplane rapidly turned to the LH side, ran off the runway and stuck a light. The aeroplane continued its run and came to a stop after crossing a drainage ditch.
2. Additional information
2.1 Meteorological information
The 16:00 and 16:30 weather reports for Metz – Nancy - Lorraine airport were the following:
- METAR LFJL 101400Z AUTO 07009KT 030V110 CAVOK 23/09 Q1021 NOSIG=
- METAR LFJL 101430Z AUTO 07008KT 050V110 CAVOK 23/08 Q1021 NOSIG=
2.2 Student pilot information
The 17-year-old student pilot had logged 46 flight hours, all on the DR400, including 12 hours in the 30 days preceding the accident.
After discussions between the student pilot, his instructor and a safety manager of the flying club, the following factors were identified as having possibly contributed to the runway excursion:
- a possible unintentional input on the LH brake due to the high position of the pilot’s feet;
- a possible power input on the wheels touching down;
- possible tiredness after flying for 1 h 30 min.
The student pilot also specified that he was surprised when the aeroplane veered to the LH side and that he had not reacted on the controls when the aeroplane ran off the runway.
3. Lessons learned
Depending on a student pilot’s assurance over the radio, a controller may not be aware that it is a solo flight. In this context, he may propose options to the student pilot that could destabilize him by placing him in a situation he had not anticipated. Although not required by regulations, some training organizations ask their student pilots to announce that they are in solo flight on the frequency.