Piper Archer II crashes during engine failure simulation

Casualties unknown • FR

A flight training exercise involving a simulated engine failure led to a loss of control and ground impact in a Piper PA-28 Archer II.

What happened

On May 19, 2014, a Piper PA-28 Archer II, registration LX-AVA, was conducting a flight training exercise near Volmerange-les-Mines, France. The flight, a dual-instruction session, began at Findel Airport in Luxembourg, where the student pilot was practicing simulated engine failure procedures.

During the exercise, the instructor reduced power to simulate a loss of engine power. The student pilot identified a landing field and, believing the aircraft was too high, deployed full flaps. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the instructor determined the exercise was successful and instructed the student to abort the simulated failure and perform a go-around.

As the student applied full power and retracted the carburetor heat, the flap lever slipped from their hand, causing the flaps to retract completely instead of the intended single notch. The instructor took control of the aircraft but was unable to stabilize the pitch. Despite applying full power, the aircraft's airspeed failed to increase while the altitude continued to decrease. The instructor attempted to flare just before the aircraft struck the ground, resulting in the failure of the nose and right main landing gear.

The investigation

The BEA examined the flight profiles of both the student and the instructor. The investigation focused on the aircraft's speed management during the simulated failure and the subsequent go-around maneuver. The investigators analyzed the aircraft's configuration, specifically the manual flap settings, and the aerodynamic state of the aircraft during the transition from a low-power descent to a high-power climb.

Findings

  • The investigation established that the aircraft's airspeed had likely decreased during the engine-reduced descent phase of the exercise, leading to a speed near the stall threshold.
  • An excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around prevented the aircraft from accelerating.
  • The aircraft entered the "critical zone of the second regime," a state where the power required for flight exceeds the power provided by the engine, causing a continuous loss of airspeed and altitude.
  • The student pilot's insufficient monitoring of airspeed during the simulated failure contributed to the low energy state of the aircraft prior to the go-around attempt.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by insufficient airspeed monitoring during a simulated engine failure, followed by an excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around, which trapped the aircraft in a critical flight regime where power was insufficient to maintain altitude.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2014-05-19 Piper PA-28 Archer II accident near FR?

A flight training exercise involving a simulated engine failure led to a loss of control and ground impact in a Piper PA-28 Archer II.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-05-19 involved a Piper PA-28 Archer II, registration LX-AVA, at FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by insufficient airspeed monitoring during a simulated engine failure, followed by an excessive pitch-up attitude during the go-around, which trapped the aircraft in a critical flight regime where power was insufficient to maintain altitude.

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