What happened
On October 29, 2013, a Jodel D117, registration F-GYRC, was performing a general aviation flight that included several stops at various mountain airstrips. After departing from Salon-Eyguières and visiting Faucon, Mens, and Bellegarde, the pilot attempted to land at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette altisurface.
During the landing on runway 19, the aircraft touched down short of the runway threshold. The touchdown occurred in an area characterized by numerous ruts. Upon contact with the uneven ground, the spring leaves of the rear landing gear failed. This structural failure caused the aircraft to veer laterally to the right, perform a ground loop, and eventually come to a stop in a side slope.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the landing conditions at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette site, which is located on a mountain hill. The runway is unpaved, measuring 180 meters in length and 20 meters in width, with a significant 20% gradient. The investigators noted that the runway threshold is not marked, and the terrain upstream of the threshold contains several ruts.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident included light rain and variable winds up to 10 knots. The pilot, who held a mountain rating, had previously landed at this specific location several times. The aircraft sustained heavy damage during the excursion.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's choice of touchdown point, which resulted in the aircraft hitting the ground before reaching the runway.
- The rupture of the rear landing gear spring leaves was triggered by the aircraft rolling over the heavily rutted ground.
- The lack of visible runway threshold markings likely contributed to the pilot's error in judging the touchdown point.