What happened
On January 29, 2011, a Robin ATL, registration F-GGXB, was conducting a PPL(A) training flight from Nancy Essey aerodrome. The flight, consisting of an instructor and a student, was performing circuit patterns when the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power.
During the final approach of the first circuit, at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the engine RPM rapidly decreased to idle and subsequently stopped. The instructor noted that no power lever adjustments had been made by the crew at the time of the failure. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway threshold, the instructor maintained a speed approximately 10 km/h above the best glide speed and executed a right turn to reach a field located roughly 400 meters short of the runway.
Despite attempts to restart the engine, the failure persisted. Upon touchdown in the field, the right wheel sank into the soft, wet ground, causing the right landing gear to collapse. The aircraft subsequently slid across the terrain, leading to the failure of the remaining two landing gear components. The aircraft was heavily damaged.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine failure and the conditions of the landing. Investigators examined the engine, a JPX 4T60A, and found that it was capable of restarting without issue following the accident. The wing tanks were found to be half full, and while other aircraft had used the same fueling pump that day, the instructor had performed fuel sumping during the pre-flight inspection.
Environmental conditions at the time included an outside temperature of -1°C and a dew point of -5°C. The instructor had engaged the carburetor heat during level flight at 1,000 feet. The investigation also considered the landing site, noting the saturated nature of the soil.