What happened
On October 26, 2014, a Piper PA 18 Super Cub, registration F-BMSZ, was conducting a water landing training session at the Biscarrosse-Parentis hydrobase. The flight was operated by a flying club and carried an instructor and a student pilot.
During the initial climb, the instructor directed the student to alter the heading to the left to comply with noise abatement procedures. After reaching 900 feet, the aircraft turned right toward the lake to survey the landing area. As the aircraft approached the water, the instructor initiated a simulated engine power reduction exercise. The student pilot focused on maintaining a 60 MPH airspeed and maneuvering into the wind.
Upon contact with the water, the aircraft's floats hit the surface while the landing gear was still extended. This caused the aircraft to pitch up onto its struts, leading to a capsize. The instructor and student managed to evacuate the aircraft before it overturned on its back. Both occupants were rescued by a nearby fisherman.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the configuration of the aircraft and the cockpit procedures. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the landing gear was extended at the time of the accident. Mechanical indicators on the floats confirmed they were in the "Down Land" position.
Investigators reviewed the cockpit instrumentation, which includes visual and auditory alarms to alert the pilot of the gear position. The investigation also examined the flight club's standard operating procedures, which require the gear to be retracted as soon as possible after takeoff and necessitate a visual verification of the mechanical indicators on the floats. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the instructor's experience and the specific safety protocols regarding simulated engine failures.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the instructor to monitor the student pilot's actions before and during the simulated engine failure exercise. The student pilot failed to retract the landing gear following takeoff, an error that went undetected by the instructor.
Several contributing factors were identified:
- The failure to execute post-takeoff and pre-landing checklists, which would have identified the gear configuration error.
- The instructor's mental preoccupation with personal matters, which reduced his availability and ability to manage an increased workload during the improvised exercise.
- A lack of standardized methodology, which deprived the instructor of necessary control tools before initiating the simulated failure.