Flight Sequence
On 24 September 2016 at 11:55 local time, a Robin DR400-120 registered as F-GSBI was involved in an accident during taxi at Moret-Episy airfield (Seine-et-Marne, France). The aircraft was operated by a local aeroclub for a private local flight. The pilot was the sole occupant.
During the initial taxi for runway 06, the pilot noticed that braking was ineffective and moved forward in the cockpit to gain better leverage on the rudder pedals. After a local flight, the pilot performed two touch-and-go landings on runway 06 without using the brakes, and then landed after a third circuit. The pilot stated that braking was initially symmetrical but the aircraft veered slightly right at the end of the landing roll. The pilot exited the runway and taxied toward the parking area.
On the parking apron, the pilot applied rudder and brake to turn left to position the aircraft parallel to a hangar. Despite brake application, the turning radius was larger than anticipated. As the pilot maintained rudder and brake inputs, the right wingtip struck the hangar doors and then the wall. The aircraft pivoted right, and the propeller struck the hangar door. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
Additional Information
The pilot, aged 53, held a private pilot license and had approximately 352 total flight hours, including 162 hours on the Robin DR400-120. The aircraft had just returned from a major inspection; a one-hour flight was conducted by an instructor and a student prior to the accident flight. The pilot was warned that the brake pads were new and would require firm application. The pilot later noted that he should have remained vigilant until the aircraft came to a complete stop and taken additional precautions by keeping distance from infrastructure.
The information in this report is primarily based on the pilot's testimony and has not been independently validated by the BEA.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not determine a probable cause; the report presents the pilot's account without analysis.