What happened
On May 29, 2014, a Robin DR 300-140, registration F-BRVB, departed from the Soulac-sur-Mer airfield for a solo training flight. Following a brief refueling stop at the airfield, the pilot prepared for the return leg to Vandays-Montalert. During the takeoff roll on runway 32, the aircraft experienced an unusually rapid and aggressive pitch-up attitude, preventing the aircraft from gaining sufficient altitude or airspeed.
The aircraft entered a shallow 360-degree right turn at a very low altitude, between 150 and 200 feet. Throughout the maneuver, the aircraft maintained a high pitch attitude and low airspeed, triggering the stall warning. The pilot attempted to fly a standard circuit to return to the runway, but the aircraft's pitch remained stuck, and the pilot was unable to align with the runway centerline. Due to the physical and psychological strain of the flight, the pilot opted for an emergency landing in a nearby dried marsh, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft's right wing and main landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight controls and the pilot's actions. Examination of the wreckage revealed no breaks or malfunctions in the flight control cables or surfaces. The elevator and trim systems were found to be functioning normally, with no evidence of physical blockages. Notably, the elevator trim was found in the full nose-up position, which was consistent with the elevator's physical position.
Witnesses, including individuals with piloting experience, corroborated the sudden pitch-up at takeoff and the low-altitude flight profile. The pilot reported hearing a loud metallic click from the rear of the aircraft during takeoff and believed the elevator controls had disconnected. However, investigators found no evidence of a control disconnection. The investigation also noted that the pilot had recently practiced procedures for elevator control failure in a different aircraft model, which may have influenced his perception of the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the incorrect trim setting, as the elevator trim was left in the full nose-up position.
- This trim setting was likely a result of the pilot's actions during the previous flight leg to Soulac-sur-Mer, where he may have adjusted the trim to assist with flight control.
- The failure to perform a thorough pre-flight inspection and a complete departure checklist prevented the detection of the incorrect trim position.
- The pilot's recent training regarding elevator failure procedures likely contributed to his misinterpretation of the aircraft's behavior as a control disconnection.