What happened
On 25 August 2017, a Robin DR401-155 CD, registration F-GNXT, was returning from a cross-country flight to Vinon aerodrome. As the pilot entered the circuit to land on runway 28, he encountered several simultaneous aircraft movements. A tug plane towing a glider had just taken off from runway 16, and a second glider tow combination followed shortly after.
To avoid a perceived conflict with the climbing glider combination, the pilot performed a right-hand dog-leg and attempted to land on the unpaved portion of the runway. This maneuver resulted in a non-stabilized approach characterized by excessive speed and a steep descent slope. During the landing, the aircraft experienced a first bounce, followed by a second. On the third contact with the ground, the nose landing gear failed, causing the propeller to strike the surface. The aircraft sustained severe damage.
The investigation
The BEA examined the coordination of aerodrome activities, the pilot's flight parameters, and the use of radio communications. Investigators analyzed FLARM data, which confirmed the aircraft was climbing to avoid traffic during the downwind leg and was traveling at a ground speed of approximately 135 km/h at touchdown. The investigation also reviewed the aerodrome's regulatory compliance, noting that the DSAC had previously identified non-conformities regarding the simultaneous use of runways at the site.
Findings
- The pilot's attempt to manage traffic conflicts led to a non-stabilized approach with excessive speed and a steep glide path.
- The pilot's lack of experience with bounced landings likely led to inappropriate control inputs, contributing to the gear failure.
- There was a lack of coordination between different aviation activities (gliders and aeroplanes) at the aerodrome.
- The session manager's role was effectively split between multiple people, leading to a failure in monitoring all aircraft in the circuit.
- Radio communication was ineffective; the pilot's messages may not have been heard due to potential confusion between the radio PTT and trim buttons on the control stick, and some glider pilots intentionally limited transmissions to avoid frequency saturation.
- The aerodrome lacked clear, published instructions for the simultaneous use of intersecting runways.
Safety action
- The BEA recommended that the aerodrome operator and user associations define and communicate clear co-activity procedures.
- The BEA recommended that the DSAC conduct awareness campaigns regarding the risks of simultaneous operations on intersecting runways.