What happened
On February 22, 2015, an Aquila AT01, registration F-HBRJ, was performing a local flight at the Île d’Yeu aerodrome. While returning to the airfield, the pilot entered the circuit on a right-hand downwind for runway 14. At the time, the wind was recorded at 210 degrees with a speed between 6 and 15 knots.
During the final approach, the pilot configured the aircraft with the second flap setting and maintained an approach speed of 75 knots. As the aircraft neared the ground, the pilot attempted to reduce speed by idling the throttle and pitching the nose down. This resulted in a hard touchdown, causing the aircraft to bounce. Following the bounce, the aircraft experienced a weathercock effect, drifting toward the direction of the wind. Upon the second contact with the runway, the nose landing gear failed, leading the aircraft to veer off the runway to the right.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's performance specifications, and the environmental conditions. The pilot, a private pilot with 235 total flight hours, had only 5 hours of experience on the Aquila AT01 type and very limited recent flight time.
Analysis of the approach speed revealed that the pilot had flown the approach at 75 knots, which was significantly higher than the 60-knot approach speed specified in the flight manual for the second flap setting. The investigation established that the pilot had confused the recommended approach speed for this aircraft with a 70-knot climb speed prescribed by his flying club, a value more common to other aircraft types like the Piper PA28 or Robin DR400, on which he had more experience. Furthermore, while an unpaved runway (04/22) was available for use during crosswind conditions, the pilot had not considered using it due to its steep approach gradient and nearby obstacles.