What happened
On 28 February 2023, a Sonaca S201, registration F-HMRZ, was performing a solo instructional flight at Tours-Val de Loire airport. The student pilot was conducting her second solo circuit, having previously completed 45 minutes of flight time with an instructor.
During the final approach to runway 02, the aircraft encountered a wind gust from 040° at 8 knots, with gusts reaching 16 knots. This gust caused the aircraft to bank, prompting the pilot to correct the heading back to the runway centerline. However, this correction resulted in the aircraft dropping below the established approach slope.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced an initial bounce of approximately 1 meter. This was followed by a second, more significant bounce reaching a height of roughly 2 meters with a load factor of 2.25 g. During this sequence, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft eventually came to a stop on the runway centerline approximately 260 meters beyond the aiming point. There were no injuries to the student pilot, though the aircraft sustained slight damage.
The investigation
The BEA examined flight data from the onboard GNSS, radio communications, and statements from the student pilot and the instructor. The investigation reviewed the student pilot's training progress, noting she was working toward her PPL(A) and ATPL(A) licenses with approximately 17 hours of total flight time.
The investigators also analyzed the Mermoz Academy Operations Manual, which provides specific instructions for managing bounced landings and recommends that inexperienced pilots perform a go-around if a bounce occurs. The investigation also considered the aerodrome's wind conditions and the pilot's technique during the flare and touchdown phases.