Accident to the Cessna - F172 - M registered F-BXIB on 07/07/2021 at Pont-Sur-Yonne (Yonne)

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 April 2022. 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 pilot and the passenger in the right front seat. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1 - HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

The pilot of the aeroplane, accompanied by three passengers who were also licensed, took off at about 15:10 from runway 32L[1] of Pont-sur-Yonne aerodrome bound for Troyes-Barberey aerodrome.
He indicated that during the take-off run, the aeroplane, in clean configuration, had difficulty reaching a speed of 55 kt. After trying to rotate several times,  the aeroplane had still not taken off. The pilot aborted the take-off by reducing the engine power, then changed his mind because the end of the runway was very close and initiated a go-around. The aeroplane overran the runway and entered a field of wheat. The nose gear broke and the aeroplane overturned onto its back.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 Pilot and passenger in right front seat information

The 54-year-old pilot held a PPL (A) licence issued on 7 June 2006, an SEP rating valid until
31 December 2022 and a class 2 medical certificate. In the previous 90 days, he had logged a total of 40 minutes of flight, on this aeroplane only. On the day of the accident, his total flying experience was 284 hours.
The passenger in the right front seat, aged 65, held a PPL (A) licence issued on 8 March 2013, an SEP rating valid until 31 August 2021 and a Class 2 medical certificate. On the day of the accident, he had logged over 400 flight hours on this aeroplane, approximately 40 hours in the previous 90 days and approximately 20 hours in the previous 30 days. His total experience was 1,260 hours on all types.

2.2 Meteorological information

Météo-France reported that the sky in the area was very cloudy to overcast with several layers between 1,800 ft and 10,000 ft. Convective clouds could have been embedded in the layer. Visibility was greater than 10 km, reduced when there were showers.
At the time of the accident, the average wind was from 180° at 5 kt to 8 kt.

2.3 Statements
2.3.1 Pilot

The pilot stated that the weight and balance sheet was completed by the passenger in the right seat and specified that the aeroplane was loaded to its maximum take-off weight. He was sitting in the left seat and recalled that during the take-off run, the engine speed was 2,200 rpm, the flaps were
He also mentioned that after the accident, the aeroplane was found with the flaps extended to 40° in the landing configuration. He believed that an untimely and unintentional extension of the flaps during the take-off run may have occurred.

2.3.2 Passenger in right front seat

The passenger indicated that after refuelling and measuring the amount of fuel in the tanks with the graduated dipstick, he got into the right seat and confirmed that the aeroplane was loaded to maximum weight. He mentioned he had offered to carry out the take-off to the pilot in the left seat.
As recommended in the flight manual, the flap configuration on take-off was “clean”. He confirmed the "up" position of the flap control on the indicator and visually on the wings.
He said that the take-off run at 55 kt seemed normal to him and that he was surprised by the pilot’s actions in reducing and then suddenly increasing engine power without informing him.
He stated that he had not encountered any particular problem during the previous cross-country flight between Melun and Pont-sur-Yonne. He also added that he was at the controls in the left seat during this flight.