Accident to the WASSMER - WA41 registered F-BMYM on 23/08/2013 at Bangor (56)

Note: The following information is principally based on the pilot’s statement. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in April 2020. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference.

1 - History of the flight

The pilot, accompanied by three passengers, conducted a VFR cross-country flight between Belle-Île-en-Mer and Île d'Yeu. On his return to Belle-île-en-Mer, he lined up on long final for runway 24 at an altitude of 1,500 ft. He adjusted the engine rating to 1,400 rpm, configured the aeroplane with the flaps set to the 1st flap detent position, then activated the fuel pump and carburettor heat. In order to maintain his path, the pilot wanted to increase the engine rating to 1,700 or even 1,800 rpm but was unable to do so. The pilot decided to carry out an off-airfield landing and informed the passengers of this. He chose a piece of land that seemed suitable for a safe landing. On final, close to his aiming point, the pilot selected the 2nd flap detent position to reduce his landing speed. A few meters from the edge of the piece of land, the nose gear struck bramble bushes, the plane tilted forward and came to rest on its nose.

The four people evacuated the aeroplane unaided.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The flight manual indicates that the throttle lever can be operated in two ways:

- Either quickly by pushing and pulling, using thumb pressure on the centre button that unlocks the micrometric system.

- Either precisely by turning the outer knob clockwise and counterclockwise.

This lever is locked in the position where it is left.

The pilot indicated that he attempted to adjust the power with the outer knob of the lever for fine tuning at first. As this did not work, he then pushed the throttle lever with one hand and then with both hands, to no avail.

The weather conditions recorded by the Belle-Île-en-Mer weather station were at 18:00:

- Wind: 280° 10 kt

- Temperature: 22 °C

 Wind gusts of up to 14 kt were recorded between 18:00 and 19:00 at Belle-Île-en-Mer.