What happened
On June 26, 2010, a privately operated Mooney M20J, registration G-OJAC, departed Cannes Mandelieu Airport under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) carrying three passengers. Approximately 15 nautical miles from Cannes, the pilot noticed an electrical overload warning light. In response, the pilot pulled the alternator circuit breaker and deactivated non-essential electrical equipment. After notifying Cannes air traffic control, the pilot initiated a turn back toward the airfield.
As the aircraft entered the Control Zone (CTR), a total electrical failure occurred, rendering the aircraft's radio communications inoperable. The pilot performed a low pass over runway 17, using wing rocking to signal intentions. During the subsequent landing pattern, the pilot attempted to manually extend the landing gear using the emergency hydraulic pump. While attempting this procedure, the pilot also tried to contact airport authorities via telephone to confirm the gear status. The aircraft ultimately landed on the unpaved runway 17, where the landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to land on its belly. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the electrical failure and the failure to properly deploy the landing gear. While the pilot reported normal battery levels during pre-flight and post-start checks, the actual state of the electrical equipment could not be determined. Post-accident inspections of the manual gear extension system revealed no mechanical anomalies, and the system had been successfully tested by a maintenance facility in March 2010.
Investigators also examined the communication between the pilot and the control tower. Although one controller used a signal lamp to authorize the landing, the heavily tinted windows of the control tower may have obscured the light signal from the pilot's view. Furthermore, the pilot's attempts to reach airport personnel via telephone were unsuccessful.
Findings
- The pilot experienced significant workload during the landing circuit, as they were simultaneously managing the emergency hydraulic pump and attempting to communicate via telephone.
- The pilot's focus was divided by the effort to find an English-speaking contact at the airport to verify the landing gear status.
- Stress and uncertainty regarding the aircraft's electrical state, the status of other traffic in the circuit, and the lack of visual confirmation from the tower contributed to a loss of concentration on the manual gear extension procedure.