What happened
On September 5, 2002, a Cessna 150L, registered F-BTUI, was conducting a training flight at Angers-Marcé airport. Following a series of touch-and-go maneuvers and a landing on runway 26, the aircraft departed again. During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 50 feet, the instructor simulated an engine failure by reducing power.
During this maneuver, the pilot failed to react promptly, maintaining a nose-up attitude. The instructor directed the pilot to pitch down and extend the flaps to the second notch, but these actions were performed slowly. The aircraft subsequently struck the runway hard and bounced. To mitigate the impact of the next contact, the instructor ordered a go-around. However, the pilot's initial application of power was insufficient, necessitating repeated commands from the instructor. When full power was finally applied by both occupants, the instructor moved the flaps to the first notch. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a stall just a few meters above the ground on the unpaved area left of the runway. The left wingtip struck the ground, causing the nose gear to collapse and the aircraft to transition into a pylon turn before landing inverted. Both occupants escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the coordination between the crew and the preparation for the simulated emergency. It was established that the pilot and instructor were flying together for the first time. While the instructor was aware of the pilot's recent flying activity, no specific briefing regarding the planned exercises was conducted prior to the flight. The instructor admitted to initiating the engine failure simulation unexpectedly during the climb, despite the runway length being sufficient for such a maneuver.
Findings
- Insufficient flight preparation prior to the commencement of the training session.
- Inadequate coordination between the pilot and the instructor during a marginal and improvised flight situation.
- A delayed response by the pilot to the instructor's commands during the simulated failure.
- The aircraft, a Cessna 150L, was destroyed in the accident.