What happened
On April 24, 2008, a Robin DR 400-140 B, registration F-GCUS, departed from Quiberon aerodrome for a local flight. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and two passengers. Immediately following rotation, the aircraft began a progressive leftward tilt while maintaining a slight pitch up. As the bank angle increased, the aircraft entered a left-hand turn and lost altitude, eventually striking a garden shed. The impact resulted in 3 fatalities and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight controls and the cockpit environment. While no mechanical malfunctions were found in the control linkages, investigators recovered a damaged camera from the wreckage. Analysis of the camera and the underside of the right-hand control stick revealed compression marks consistent with being pressed against an object.
Video footage recovered from a camcorder in the wreckage showed the flight sequence. The footage indicated that the pilot did not use a physical checklist and that the engine performance remained nominal, though the stall warning activated nine seconds after rotation. Flight simulations conducted by the BEA confirmed that placing an object of similar dimensions to the recovered camera on the floor could obstruct the right-hand side of the control stick, preventing it from moving to the right and thereby causing a progressive roll to the left.
Findings
- The aircraft was within its weight and center of gravity limits.
- The takeoff distance and rotation speed were within normal parameters.
- A camera placed on the floor likely obstructed the right-side movement of the control stick, preventing the pilot from correcting the increasing leftward bank.
- The pilot was unable to stop the roll, leading to a stall and subsequent impact.