Incident to the Piper PA34-200 Seneca registered F-GBTP on 08/12/2020 at Rouen-Vallée de Seine (Seine-Maritime)

Cat. 3 investigation report: report concerning an occurrence with limited consequences, based on one or more statements not independently validated by the BEA.

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in December 2021. 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

In the scope of training for a multi-engine IFR rating, the student pilot, accompanied by an instructor and a passenger, carried out a flight from Toussus-le-Noble aerodrome to Rouen-Vallée de Seine.
On arrival at Rouen aerodrome, after a VOR approach, the student pilot configured the aeroplane to land on runway 22[1]. She operated the landing gear, whose correct extension was confirmed by the lights on the instrument panel. The instructor then validated the correct completion of the pre-landing checklist.
After a stabilised final approach, the student pilot started the flare too high. Despite the instructor's actions, the aeroplane touched down hard on the runway. At the end of the deceleration, when the student pilot reapplied the brakes to control the speed and clear the runway, the nose gear collapsed. The aeroplane kept running for about 10 metres before coming to rest on the runway centreline.
The lower part of the nose fuselage, the tips of the propeller blades and the nose gear doors were damaged due to contact with the runway.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Student pilot and instructor information

The 46-year-old student pilot held a CPL licence and a class 1 medical certificate. On the day of the accident, she had logged 700 flight hours.
The 33-year-old instructor held a CPL licence with FI and CRI instructor ratings and a class 1 medical certificate. He had logged 2,700 flight hours, of which 60 hours were on type and 10 hours in the last 30 days.

2.2 Meteorological information

At 15:30, the Rouen-Vallée de Seine aerodrome METAR indicated wind from 230° at 4 kt, visibility greater than 10 km, a ceiling at 1,800 ft and a temperature of 5° C.
When the student pilot checked the ATIS, before leaving cruise level, it gave the following information: wind from 270° at 5 kt, visibility 10 km and a cloud base at 1,200 ft.

2.3 Statements
2.3.1 Student pilot

The student pilot reported that the landing gear was down and all three green lights were on. She felt the landing on the centreline was hard. She braked, released the brakes then re-applied them to bring the aeroplane to a suitable speed to clear the runway. She then noticed that the nose of the aeroplane was dropping forward and the aeroplane slid on its nose for several metres.

2.3.2 Instructor

The instructor reported that he had informed the student that as the runway was wide, a typical mistake was to flare too high and too soon. He took back control of the aeroplane late and increased power during the landing, but was unable to avoid the nose gear making "rough" contact with the runway. He considered that a go-around could have prevented the accident.