What happened
On July 3, 2016, a Robin DR 253, registration F-BOZM, was conducting a local flight as part of a four-aircraft group. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and three passengers, was arriving at Auxerre-Branches aerodrome from Dijon. As the aircraft was on short final, an instructor in a following Diamond DA20 requested that the pilot perform a "long landing" to avoid occupying the runway for an extended period.
Following this request, the pilot modified his usual landing technique. Upon touchdown, the aircraft began to veer. The pilot attempted to correct the trajectory using the rudder pedals, but reported a sensation that the pedals were blocked. The aircraft subsequently veered sharply to the left, exiting the runway. As the aircraft moved onto the runway strip, the nose gear sank into the soft ground, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and eventually capsize onto its back. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot and one passenger sustained slight injuries.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and the surrounding site, noting a deep furrow in the grass 17 meters from the left edge of the runway. While it could not be determined if the furrow was pre-existing, the investigation noted that the runway strip was uneven and characterized by numerous bumps.
Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance, finding that the aircraft was near its maximum takeoff mass and had an aft center of gravity, though within allowable limits. Photographic evidence from a passenger and a ground witness confirmed the aircraft's speed on final was approximately 145 km/h and documented the sequence of the veer and the subsequent capsize. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the maintenance of the runway strip and the regulatory oversight of the aerodrome.
Findings
- The request from the following aircraft's instructor to perform a long landing pressured the pilot to alter his standard landing technique, leading to a destabilized approach.
- The aircraft's configuration—including a high mass, aft center of gravity, and a nose-down pitch command—may have induced a "wheelbarrowing" phenomenon, which significantly reduced directional control and braking effectiveness.
- The severity of the accident was exacerbated by the poor condition of the runway strip, which contained uneven terrain and soft ground that caused the nose gear to sink during the excursion.