What happened
On November 29, 2012, a Robin DR 400-120, registration F-GGJO, departed from the Royan-Médis aerodrome for a local instructional flight intended to renew a single-engine piston (SEP) class rating. During the climb, at approximately 500 feet, the instructor initiated a simulated engine failure. At roughly 250 feet, the instructor attempted to terminate the exercise and instructed the student to resume the climb. However, when the student applied power, the engine remained at idle.
Upon realizing the failure was real, the instructor took control of the aircraft, notified the tower, and executed an emergency landing in a recently plowed field. During the landing roll, the nose gear sank deeply into the soft soil for approximately ten meters before breaking. The aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine's inability to respond to power inputs and the circumstances of the landing. Investigators examined the engine and the aircraft's systems but found no mechanical malfunctions that could explain the power loss.
Statements from the crew revealed that during the initial climb, the instructor had pulled the carburetor heat control and reduced power to simulate the failure. The student noted that the chosen landing site was the only viable option to the north, as obstacles prevented a landing to the south. The instructor confirmed that the electric pump was functional prior to the simulation and noted that the flight path was dictated by the student's initial maneuvers during the exercise.
Findings
- The investigation could not definitively identify the specific cause of the engine power loss.
- Severe carburetor icing is considered the most probable cause, given the meteorological conditions and the fact that the engine was running at idle during the simulated failure exercise, despite the use of carburetor heat.
- The nose gear failure was caused by the aircraft's landing gear sinking into the soft, plowed earth.