What happened
On 17 June 2022, a Robin DR400/500 (registration F-HSOO) departed from the Bordeaux-Léognan-Saucats aerodrome as part of a planned cross-country flight. Shortly after taking off from runway 03, the aircraft lost control and collided with trees in a nearby forest. The impact was followed by a fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot and two passengers, all of whom were on board at the time, were fatally injured.
Security camera footage from a nearby building captured the aircraft flying at a low speed with a steep attitude. The footage showed oscillations around the roll axis, followed by a pronounced left bank and a descent into the forest. Radar data confirmed that the aircraft's ground speed remained at approximately 55 knots after takeoff, showing no significant increase in altitude.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage, flight control linkages, and engine performance. While the fire caused extensive damage, investigators established that the flight control linkages for roll and yaw remained continuous. A failure was noted in a bolted connection within one of the pitch channels, though no prior defect was suspected.
Analysis of the vegetation and propeller indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of impact, as the propeller severed tree branches. The propeller blades were found to be in a position close to coarse pitch upon impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting he had recently transitioned to the variable-pitch variant of the aircraft and had logged only a few hours on this specific model.