History of the Flight
The pilot departed Chavenay–Villepreux aerodrome at approximately 12:45 local time for a cross-country flight that included touch-and-go landings at Chartres–Champhol and Dreux–Vernouillet aerodromes before returning to Chavenay. After about 20 minutes of flight, he passed overhead Chartres aerodrome at 1,800 ft and joined the circuit at 1,500 ft to land on paved runway 27. According to SDVFR navigation data, the ground speed during final approach for runway 27 was between 110 and 130 km/h on a slope of around 3°. The pilot landed on the paved runway, then reconfigured the aircraft for takeoff: he pushed the throttle to full power, retracted the flaps by one detent position, and pushed the carburetor heat control. The aircraft yawed to the left, exited the runway, and flew over the grass at very low height at a ground speed of about 90 km/h. Several eyewitnesses observed the aircraft with a nose-up attitude. It subsequently collided with the windsock located near taxiway B, severing the left wing. The aircraft came to rest inverted, and the pilot evacuated unaided.
Aerodrome and Weather Information
Chartres–Champhol aerodrome has both an unpaved and a paved runway oriented 09/27. Meteorological data from Météo-France indicated that between 13:00 and 14:00, the Chartres sector was at the rear of a cold front with light rain. The chartres aerodrome weather station (which does not provide METARs) reported wind from 200–230° at around 12 kt with gusts up to 25 kt (46 km/h), visibility greater than 20 km, few clouds at 3,300 ft, a broken cloud layer from 6,000 ft, temperature 18–20°C, and QNH 1008 hPa. The crosswind component for landing on runway 27 (bearing 272°) with a wind from 200° between 12 and 25 kt was 10 to 23 kt.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Robin DR400/120, registered F-GSBN, equipped with a 120-hp Lycoming O-235-L2A engine. The most recent scheduled maintenance (50-hour inspection) was performed on 10–11 June 2024, and the aircraft had completed four flights since then before the accident flight. The flight manual specifies for crosswind landings: flaps in takeoff position, approach speed of 130 km/h plus half the gust value, and drift compensation. The demonstrated crosswind is 40 km/h (22 kt). Normal takeoff speed with flaps in the first detent is 100 km/h. Touch-and-go landings are not described in the flight manual. The VFR instructor manual notes that touch-and-go landings are not an air operation; it recommends a full-stop landing or instructor-configured reconfiguration when used in instruction.
Pilot Information
The 37-year-old pilot held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) obtained in July 2022 and had logged approximately 130 flight hours, all on the DR400. His recent flight experience included 1 hour 18 minutes in the previous 24 hours, 2 hours 1 minute in the previous 72 hours, 2 hours 46 minutes in the last 30 days, and 4 hours 21 minutes in the last 90 days. On the morning of the accident, he performed 12 runway circuits on the unpaved runway 23 at Chavenay–Villepreux, with wind on the axis and gusts up to 20 kt. After refueling, he departed for his triangular flight.
Examination of the Wreckage
The BEA did not attend the accident site but examined the wreckage a few days later. The flight controls were continuous, the flaps were in the first detent (takeoff position), and the elevator trim was near neutral. Eyewitnesses reported no visible run marks in the grass around the area of the runway excursion and windsock, which appeared consistent with photographs.
Conclusions
The pilot performed a landing with a left crosswind and gusts during a touch-and-go on paved runway 27. After touchdown, while increasing power for takeoff and reconfiguring the aircraft, the aircraft veered left off the runway and flew over the ground at very low height. The pilot likely did not make sufficient pedal and stick corrections to maintain the landing path on the runway centerline. The aircraft continued on a diverging path at a speed close to takeoff speed, with a nose-up attitude observed by witnesses, before striking the windsock. The pilot, with his seatbelt fastened, exited the aircraft without difficulty and was slightly injured.