Robin DR400-155 CDI Engine Power Loss Incident at Cannes Mandelieu (F-HCAP)

Incident Overview and Flight Profile<br><br>On 1 January 2016 at approximately 10:30 local time, a privately operated Robin DR400-155 CDI Ecoflyer, registration F-HCAP, departed from Cannes Mandelieu Aerodrome (06) on runway 17 for a personal pleasure flight to Villanova d’Albenga, Italy. The aircraft carried a pilot and three passengers. During the initial climb, the pilot detected a faint burnt smell at an altitude of approximately 500 feet, accompanied by rapid fluctuations in engine power. By 800 feet, the odor intensified, and alerts for both FADEC channels illuminated, resulting in a significant power reduction. The pilot declared an emergency, executed a turn back, and landed on runway 35 at a speed near VFE. The aircraft was secured on taxiway A1, where the propeller was no longer driven by the engine, and all occupants evacuated without injury.<br><br>## Contributing Factors and Maintenance History<br><br>The 25-year-old pilot held a private pilot license issued on 4 September 2015 and possessed approximately 70 flight hours, including six hours on the DR400 Ecoflyer 155. The pre-flight weight and balance calculation indicated a takeoff weight of 1,097 kg, just below the maximum takeoff weight of 1,100 kg. The aircraft’s owner reported recurring power fluctuations between 100% and 85% during initial climbs between the 300-hour and 600-hour inspections, which occurred every 10 to 15 flights. The manufacturer noted that a service bulletin was issued on 27 January 2016 following a similar event on a Diamond DA40 TDI, recommending 50-hour inspections of the drive shaft seal.