History of the Flight
On 25 February 2017, a Pilatus PC-12/47E registered OO-PCI departed Charleroi airport (Belgium) at 08:00 UTC for Courchevel mountain airfield (France). The aircraft carried a pilot-in-command (PIC), a safety pilot, and seven passengers. The flight was operated by European Aircraft Private Club for co-owners of the aircraft.
During the approach to Courchevel, the PIC and safety pilot conducted a visual reconnaissance and followed the VAC chart path. On final approach, the aircraft descended below the reference 5% slope. At approximately 0.2 NM from the runway threshold, the aircraft reached about 114 ft below the slope. At 09:37:36, the left main landing gear wheel struck a bank in the snow just before the runway threshold. The calibrated airspeed at impact was 78 kt, with a rate of climb of 1,095 ft/min and power at 3 PSI.
Injuries
No injuries were reported. The two crew members and seven passengers sustained minor or no injuries.
Damage to Aircraft
The PIC observed a flattened area on the inner edge of the left wheel rim. After a ferry flight with the landing gear extended to a maintenance centre, detailed inspection revealed flaking paint in the landing gear well and substantial damage to the left wing, leading to a lengthy downtime.
Investigation
The BEA investigation analyzed flight data recorder and radio communication recordings. The approach was unstable from 2 NM, with the aircraft descending below the 5% slope. The safety pilot, who lacked a PC-12 type rating and Courchevel training, assisted the PIC. The PIC had limited experience since receiving authorization for Courchevel, and his initial training was shorter than the instructor's planned program.
Probable Cause
The accident was due to a combination of: the final not being stabilized; an error in judgement as to the position of the plane on the approach slope on short final; the duration of the PIC’s training for the authorization to use the Courchevel mountain airfield, shorter than planned in the instructor’s training programme; the PIC’s small amount of experience since obtaining the authorization to use the mountain airfield combined with the insufficient experience of the safety pilot who did not have the type rating and had not followed the training for the use of Courchevel mountain airfield.