What happened
On August 21, 2016, an Aquila AT01, registration D-ESLV, departed Arcachon - La Teste-de-Buch for Île-d’Yeu under VFR conditions. The flight, carrying a pilot and one passenger, proceeded via Saint-Jean-de-Monts before approaching runway 32 at Île-d’Yeu on a downwind leg.
During the final approach, the pilot believed the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway centerline and descent path. However, as the aircraft reached the runway threshold at a speed of 65 knots, the pilot failed to execute a sufficient flare. This resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent bounces. During the third bounce, the nose gear fork buckled, causing the aircraft to come to a halt on the runway. The impact also caused damage to the propeller blade tips.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's flight maneuvers and the aircraft's mechanical response to the landing sequence. Investigators reviewed the pilot's experience, noting they held a PPL(A) with 189 total flight hours, including only 6.5 hours on this specific aircraft type. The pilot had recently completed circuit training in a different aircraft type (Reims Aviation F152) just two days prior to the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the structural failure was an insufficient flare during the landing phase.
- The landing sequence involved multiple bounces, with the third bounce leading to the collapse of the nose gear.
- The pilot noted that applying full power immediately after the first bounce might have prevented the subsequent abnormal contact with the runway.