What happened
On August 31, 2019, a Cirrus Aircraft SR20, registration F-GXYP, was performing a local flight at Le Mans-Arnage aerodrome. The aircraft, operated by Aéroclub les Ailes du Maine, was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the landing phase on runway 20, the aircraft was established on final approach with a stable airspeed of approximately 73 kt in full flaps configuration. As the aircraft crossed the offset runway threshold at an altitude of about 30 feet, the pilot adjusted the pitch to intercept the glide path indicated by the PAPI. This maneuver caused the airspeed to decrease to 6 and the pitch to increase.
In an attempt to maintain airspeed, the pilot applied additional power, increasing the engine RPM by 200. This caused the airspeed to continue dropping to 56 kt. At an altitude of approximately two meters, the stall warning activated. The pilot then applied a second, much larger increase in power, bringing the engine to nearly maximum power (2,650 RPM). This sudden surge in power, combined with the low airspeed, caused the aircraft to climb and veer sharply to the left. The pilot lost control, and the aircraft struck the left side of the runway at a 45-degree angle, bounced, and performed a 180-degree rotation before coming to rest on the grass. The impact resulted in two injuries (the pilot and passenger) and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and recovered data from the onboard Avidyne flight computers (PFD and MFD). The investigation analyzed engine parameters, flight data, and autopilot logs. The investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot had 927 total flight hours, he had only 37 hours in the SR20 and had not flown the type since July 2019. Meteorological data confirmed a crosswind of approximately 10 kt from the right and turbulent conditions in the lower layers.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of control was the sudden and rapid application of power near maximum levels while the aircraft was flying at a very low airspeed.
- The pilot failed to sufficiently counteract the significant engine-induced effects (pitch and roll) caused by this rapid power increase.
- The aircraft's pitch increased and airspeed decreased following the initial power application, leading to the activation of the stall warning.