What happened
On August 22, 2012, a private Jodel DR1050, registered F-BKHP, was performing a local flight with one passenger at the Chambley aerodrome. During the takeoff roll on runway 05, the pilot noted a wind direction of approximately 270° with speeds below 5 knots. As power was applied, the aircraft began to veer toward the right side of the runway. To counteract this, the pilot applied increasing left rudder pressure.
While the aircraft's trajectory stabilized parallel to the runway axis, the pilot continued to maintain heavy rudder input. Upon reaching a speed of approximately 60 km/ 37 mph, the aircraft performed a nose-over (ground loop) to the left. This maneuver resulted in the rupture of the main landing gear. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway after rolling approximately 200 meters.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's mechanical condition and the pilot's control inputs. Investigators examined the runway surface, noting that tire marks left by the main gear indicated the aircraft was skidding during the takeoff roll. Technical inspections of the Jodel DR1050 revealed no mechanical malfunctions or technical failures that could have contributed to the incident.
Regarding the pilot's experience, the commander held a private pilot license and was an instructor with 7,000 total flight hours, including 245 hours in tailwheel aircraft. The pilot had completed 55 flight hours in the three months preceding the accident, with only 3 hours specifically on this aircraft type.