What happened
On May 27, 2005, a Robin R 1180 TD aircraft, registered F-GCRD, departed from Pamiers for a flight to Muret with the pilot and two passengers. While cruising at 2,700 feet, the crew heard a sharp noise, followed by the smell of hot plastic and the appearance of white smoke emerging from beneath the dashboard.
In response to the smoke, the pilot deactivated the alternator and reduced the electrical load but kept the battery connected to maintain radio contact with the Pami and transmitted a 7700 emergency code. Following emergency procedures, the pilot attempted an off-field landing in a field. During the final approach at 80 knots, a passenger alerted the pilot to an overhead power line. The pilot increased power and pitched up to clear the wires, which significantly shortened the available landing distance. While attempting to land diagonally across the field, the aircraft struck a ditch, causing the landing gear to collapse. The engine mount struck the ground, and the aircraft came to a stop approximately twenty meters later. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the source of the smoke and the mechanical failure during landing. Examination of the electrical systems revealed no defects. However, investigators discovered that the heating duct located in the front right position had been blocked using a plastic plug secured with adhesive tape. This plug showed clear signs of overheating and melted plastic.
Witnesses stated that hot air had previously been entering the cabin even when the heating system was turned off, leading an unidentified individual to block the duct. The investigation established that this modification was not performed through any planned maintenance process, and the materials and methods used were entirely unsuitable for such a task.