What happened
On 29 March 2014, a WASSMER-Jodel D120, registration F-GUZY, was performing a rating revalidation flight at Vannes Meucon aerodrome. The aircraft, operated for private training purposes, was being flown by a pilot accompanied by an instructor. During the takeoff roll on runway 2D, the aircraft transitioned from a three-point attitude to a level flight attitude. At this stage, the aircraft began to deviate to the left.
In an attempt to correct the flight path, the pilot applied rudder pedal inputs that caused the aircraft to swing to the right. Subsequent pedal inputs led to a further deviation back to the left, ultimately resulting in a left-hand ground loop on the runway. The lateral forces generated during this excursion caused the main landing gear to fail, with both legs bending leftwards. There were no fatalities or injuries to the two occupants, though the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of control inputs and the mechanical response of the aircraft. Investigators examined the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot had 490 total flight hours, he had only logged 2 hours and 20 minutes on aircraft with conventional landing gear in the preceding year. The instructor, conversely, was highly experienced with 2,000 hours on similar gear types.
Technical examination of the braking system revealed that braking is achieved by pressing the upper part of the rudder pedals. The investigation established that the pilot's footwear—leather-soled shoes—played a role in the accident, as the soles were prone to sliding on the pedals. Furthermore, it was noted that the aircraft's braking system is only functional via the pilot's pedals; the right-hand seat lacks a brake control, which prevented the instructor from intervening to stabilize the aircraft once the deviation began.