What happened
On November 27, 2011, a pilot operating a Tecnam P2002-JF, registration F-GVOR, was performing a touch-and-go maneuver at the private Corbonod airfield. After landing on the paved runway, the pilot applied power to initiate a takeoff and attempted to retract the flaps to a 15-degree setting. Upon finding that the electric flap control was unresponsive, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff.
At the time of the decision, the aircraft was traveling at approximately 35 to 40 knots with roughly 100 meters of runway remaining. The pilot applied heavy braking, but the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining distance, resulting in a longitudinal excursion. The aircraft struck a ditch, causing the landing gear to collapse, and eventually overturned. The pilot sustained one injury, and the aircraft was heavily damaged.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the operational decisions made by the pilot. It was established that three weeks prior to the accident, club members had noted intermittent malfunctions with the electric flap controls, specifically that a circuit breaker appeared to trip during landings. Although maintenance personnel had performed ground checks, they were unable to replicate the fault. Consequently, the club had placed a warning note on the dashboard advising the pilot to monitor the breaker, with plans to replace the flap motor during the next 50-hour inspection. No flight restrictions had been imposed on the aircraft.
Investigators also examined the airfield characteristics and the pilot's authorization. The Corbonod runway is a 400-meter paved strip with a convex profile. The pilot, who held a PPL(A) license, was not among the authorized pilots permitted to use this restricted-use airfield.
Findings
- The accident was caused by the pilot's decision to perform a touch-and-go at a short runway using an aircraft with a known intermittent flap malfunction.
- The pilot's lack of understanding regarding the aircraft's actual performance led to an unnecessary aborted takeoff, as the aircraft was still capable of flight at the moment the decision was made.
- The club failed to repair a previously identified mechanical anomaly and did not issue restrictive operating instructions for the aircraft.
- The pilot performed a landing at a restricted-use airfield without the required authorization.