What happened
On February 5, 2007, a Jodel D 140 C, registration F-GHRP, was conducting a mountain flight instruction mission near Val Thorelen, France. The flight, operated by Aéroclub des Trois Vallées, began at Courchevel with an instructor, a student, and one passenger on board. After landing at the Val Thorens high-altitude airstrip to drop off the passenger, the instructor and student departed for a second circuit.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered severe meteorological conditions. While performing a right-hand turn—a standard procedure at this airfield to avoid terrain—the aircraft was struck by powerful downdrafts. This caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly and strike a rock near the runway. The impact caused significant damage to the right landing gear and the right wing.
Despite the damage, the instructor attempted to manage the aircraft's degraded aerodynamic performance. After performing a 360-degree turn to assess the situation, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in the valley. However, while approaching the terrain in a shaded area where the snow-covered landscape lacked visual depth, the left wingtip struck the slope, causing the aircraft to crash and catch fire. The impact resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the aircraft's structural integrity following the initial impact and the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the wreckage, including the engine, propeller, and the ski-wheel landing gear assembly. The engine was found to have been producing power at the moment of impact, and the fuel system showed no pre-existing defects.
Metallurgical analysis of the landing gear revealed that the right wheel spindle had fractured upon impact with a rock. The investigation also analyzed witness testimonies from skiers and other pilots, which confirmed the presence of sudden, violent wind shifts. The investigation also looked at the visibility conditions, noting that the transition from sunlight to shadow in the valley likely obscured the terrain for the pilot during the final approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the initial loss of altitude was the presence of strong downdrafts (rabattants) immediately after takeoff, which forced the aircraft toward the ground.
- The collision with the rock caused asymmetric drag and structural damage, including a broken right landing gear component and wing damage, which severely compromised the aircraft's maneuverability.
- The attempt at an emergency landing was unsuccessful due to the combination of the aircraft's degraded flight characteristics and challenging lighting conditions, as the shaded terrain made it difficult to distinguish the slope's contours.