Robin DR400-160 Stall After Takeoff at Quiberon

Accident Overview On Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 12:05 local time, a Robin DR400-160 registered F-GKIM, operated by a club, was destroyed in an accident at Quiberon aerodrome (56). One passenger was injured. ## Flight Circumstances The pilot had flown from Reims-Prunay to Quiberon the previous day for a family event. On the morning of the accident, with CAVOK conditions, the pilot decided to make a tour of the Gulf of Morbihan with three passengers. The aircraft was fully fueled before departure. ## Takeoff and Loss of Control After aligning with runway 11 and applying full power, the pilot rotated at 110 km/h instead of the manual's 100 km/h, knowing the aircraft was near maximum weight. The stall warning activated shortly after rotation. The pilot released back pressure, then applied pitch-up again due to the proximity of the sea at the runway end, triggering the stall warning again. At low altitude, the aircraft stalled asymmetrically to the right, and the pilot could not recover control. Before impact, the pilot reduced power to idle, set the magnetos to OFF, and closed the mixture. The wreckage examination showed the engine was producing power at impact. ## Conditions and Pilot Experience At takeoff, the outside temperature was 23 °C, QNH 1018, and wind variable between 090° and 120° at 6 kt. The available runway length was sufficient for takeoff at maximum takeoff weight. The pilot had 100 total flight hours, 27 as pilot-in-command, and 10 hours on type (8 as PIC). He had received theoretical training on mass and balance. This was his first flight with four people on board and his first flight to/from a coastal aerodrome. ## Investigation Findings The pilot performed a quick weight calculation after refueling but did not assess the center of gravity. Based on the weights of all persons and items on board, the aircraft mass corresponded to the maximum takeoff weight (± 10 kg), and the center of gravity was close to the aft limit (30.5% for an aft limit of 33%). The AFIS agent observed a high pitch attitude relatively early after rotation, then a zero attitude at low altitude, followed by a significant increase in pitch before the stall. The aircraft climbed gently to the right.