Accident to the SONACA 200 NG registered F-HYJB on 31/07/2024 at Deauville

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

1. HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT
The student pilot undertook her third solo flight which consisted of a session of runway circuits. The first runway circuit was carried out without incident. The student pilot indicated that during the second circuit, the final was stabilised with the same parameters as usual. During the landing, the aeroplane bounced and on its second contact with the runway, the nose gear touched down first and broke. The aeroplane continued its run over several metres before coming to a halt on the runway.

The student pilot informed the controller of what had happened. The latter asked her to switch off all the systems and then had the ARFF intervene.

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Figure 1: aeroplane at standstill on runway (source: BGTA)

2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Meteorological information
The student pilot and her instructor indicated that the weather was good and that it was hot.

The 11:30 (local time) Deauville METAR gave the following information:
310930Z AUTO 11005KT 060V180 CAVOK 27/20 Q1013 NOSIG=

2.2 Student pilot information
The 18-year-old student pilot started her PPL training in 2022. She had logged:
• around 10 flight hours in dual control on the Tecnam P2008 in a previous flying club;
• around 30 flight hours in dual control and 1 hour 12 minutes solo on the SONACA.

The student pilot specified that she had not experienced any difficulties in passing from the Tecnam to the Sonaca but she had noticed that the Sonaca controls were more sensitive than on the Tecnam.

2.3 Contributing factors indicated by the student pilot and the instructor
According to the student pilot, when the aeroplane bounced, it was possible that her instinctive reaction was to slightly push the stick. She specified that she had never encountered a bounced landing situation during her training.

According to the instructor:
• due to the higher-than-usual temperature, the aeroplane’s performance may have been slightly different to that already experienced by the student pilot;
• in addition, the centre of gravity is close to the forward limit when the pilot weighs less than 55 kg and is unaccompanied.

3. LESSONS LEARNED
The training manager issued reminders about the consequences of having a centre of gravity close to the forward limit and the heaviness of the stick during the flare.

He also created a software program for use by student pilots, pilots and instructors, to determine the Sonaca's weight and balance.

December 2024