What happened
On Friday, May 11, 2001, a Robin HR 200 - 120 B aircraft, registered F-GSRX, was conducting a dual instruction flight at Mulhouse Habsheim Airport. The flight was intended to include a simulated engine failure after takeoff, a maneuver the student pilot had previously practiced.
After notifying air traffic control of the intended exercise, the instructor directed the student to perform a takeoff using brakes to limit acceleration. The aircraft successfully departed and established a stabilized climb. At approximately 300 feet, the instructor reduced engine power to initiate the simulation. The student pilot reacted by immediately pitching the nose down to maintain gliding speed.
As the aircraft descended, the instructor determined the descent rate was too high and attempted to pull up while simultaneously applying power. During these maneuvers, the instructor noted that the student was gripping the controls very tightly. The aircraft subsequently struck the runway with significant force in a three-point attitude and bounced.
Following the impact, the engine remained stuck at maximum power, and the instructor was unable to reduce the throttle. The instructor decided to execute a go-around and requested priority for landing. During the final approach, because the mixture control was also stuck, the instructor shut down the engine by switching the magneto contacts to the 'Off' position. Upon landing, intense vibrations occurred as the landing gear had been compromised. The instructor struggled to maintain the aircraft's trajectory due to the deformed gear, eventually steering the aircraft off the left side of the runway where it came to a stop in the grass.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers during the engine failure simulation and the physical state of the aircraft following the impact. The investigators examined the flight controls, the engine's failure to respond to throttle inputs, and the physical condition of the landing gear and engine mount.
Findings
- The primary cause of the heavy landing was the delayed takeover of flight controls by the instructor during the recovery maneuver.
- The student pilot exhibited significant tension and was gripping the controls rigidly during the descent.
- The impact resulted in damage to the landing gear, the engine mount, and the engine controls.
- The engine throttle and mixture controls became immobilized following the initial hard landing.