History of the Flight
On Friday 24 August, a group of seven pilots from Aéroclub de Granville departed from Granville-Mont-Saint-Michel aerodrome in two DR400 aeroplanes for a weekend trip to Castelnaudary-Villeneuve. On the morning of Sunday 26 August, the group began their return journey. After a stop at Guéret-Saint-Laurent, the two aeroplanes took off around 13:00 bound for Saumur-Saint-Florent. The DR400-180 registered F-GSBZ carried the pilot and three passengers.
During final approach for runway 28, flying over the town of Saumur led the pilot to fly above the vertical profile with a steeper than normal slope. On short final, a rear-seat passenger suggested reducing power to decrease speed. The pilot flared at approximately 130 km/h at a height estimated to be too high. The aeroplane bounced upon contacting the runway and banked right.
The passenger in the front right seat took the controls and adjusted power to stabilise the aeroplane. The aircraft landed with a left bank angle and exited the runway to the left, about 300 m from the threshold of runway 28 at roughly 90 km/h. After passing over a rut in the safety area, the right wing struck the ground. With a nose-down attitude, the aeroplane spun with its right wing touching the ground and came to a stop in the grass, 12 m from the edge of the runway and perpendicular to it.
Additional Information
Final Approach Speeds
The recommended final approach speed is 125 km/h with flaps in the second detent, or 130 km/h plus half the gust value with flaps in the first detent in crosswind or strong gusts.
Examination of Site and Wreckage
The aeroplane was found approximately 450 m from the threshold of runway 28 and 12 m left of the runway edge. The right wing was folded in two places along its length, and its leading edge was destroyed. The left wing was intact except for the flap (in landing position) which had slight trailing edge damage. The propeller and engine were under the front fuselage, nearly vertical. Propeller blades indicated power at the time of ground impact.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (Aeroplanes) issued on 29 August 2017. She had logged 129 flight hours, with 43 hours as pilot-in-command, including 2 hours 40 minutes in the previous three months, all as pilot-in-command. She reported that the flight lasted approximately one hour in turbulent conditions requiring concentration. She believed the right bank after the bounce was due to a gust of wind.
Statements
Other participants reported that during the weekend, less experienced pilots were accompanied by a more experienced pilot in the front right seat. On F-GSBZ, a pilot with around 800 flight hours was seated to the right. The final approach slope was steeper than normal. One rear-seat passenger (with about 550 flight hours) stated the pilot seemed unconfident during final approach over houses. The pilot had probably flared too high. The taking of control by more experienced pilots was not generally expected. A passenger on the other DR400, in the downwind leg for runway 28, saw the aeroplane deviate left and thought a go-around was initiated with insufficient acceleration and a stall on the left wing.
Aerodrome and Meteorological Information
Saumur-Saint-Florent aerodrome has a paved runway 1,450 m long and 30 m wide, with a displaced threshold on runway 28 reducing landing distance to 1,310 m. The town of Saumur lies east of the aerodrome under the final approach to runway 28, about 1 NM from the threshold. VAC chart instructions note trees in obstacle-limitation areas.
At 14:00, Angers-Marcé (20 NM north-north-east) reported south-south-westerly wind 12 kts, visibility >10 km, few clouds, temperature 23°C, QNH 1008 hPa. The pilot indicated gusts.
Conclusions
During a leg of an excursion, the pilot of F-GSBZ probably flared too high at high speed. The passenger in the front right seat took control and adjusted power after the bounce and right bank. The aeroplane deviated left of the runway; the right wing contacted the ground in the safety area, and the aircraft spun 90° before stopping.
Factors that may have contributed to the high flare include a steep final approach slope (unusual for the pilot), possibly due to lack of experience or erroneous height assessment over houses and trees, and a suggestion from a rear-seat passenger to reduce power. It could not be determined with accuracy what actions were made on the flight controls by the pilot and the front right passenger after the bounce. The loss of control and runway exit after the second contact may have resulted from simultaneous and uncoordinated actions.