What happened
On September 26, 2015, a Jodel D127, registration F-BJJX, was performing a training flight from Feurs Chambéon to Roanne. The aircraft, carrying an instructor and a student, completed a three-point landing on runway 02 at Roanne aerodrome.
During the landing roll at approximately 40 km/h, the aircraft began to drift slightly to the left. In an attempt to correct the deviation and return to the runway centerline, the student applied a sudden and excessive right rudder input. This action caused the aircraft to pivot sharply to the right, resulting in a ground loop. As the aircraft veered off the paved surface, the landing gear legs collapsed under the wings, and the aircraft came to a stop in the grass adjacent to the runway. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the control inputs made during the landing roll and the psychological state of the student pilot. The instructor, a commercial pilot with 505 total flight hours, noted that the student's right rudder application was much more forceful than intended.
Post-flight debriefing revealed that the student was experiencing significant stress due to personal issues and anxiety regarding the transition from unpaved runways to the paved runway at Roanne. The instructor had specifically advised the student to exercise caution when landing on paved surfaces in a tailwheel aircraft, which likely contributed to the student's heightened tension during the maneuver.