What happened
Following a maintenance procedure, a pilot and a mechanic departed from Grenoble-Alpes-Isère Airport (saint-Geoirs) to perform a scheduled check flight. While conducting maneuvers in an open area south of the airfield, the pilot executed a stall maneuver, during which the rudder pedals became unresponsive. Although the pilot retained use of the elevators and ailerons, the loss of directional control was reported to the aerodrome controller.
In an attempt to return to the airfield, the pilot intended to land on the paved runway 09. Due to the uncertainty regarding the mechanical failure, the decision was made to approach with the flaps retracted. During the final approach, at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the pilot opted to utilize the unpaved runway 09 located adjacent to the paved strip.
As the aircraft reached the flare stage at an altitude of roughly 1 to 2 meters, the pilot reduced power. At this moment, the aircraft experienced a lateral oscillation, rolling to the right and then to the left. This motion caused the propeller and wing tips to make contact with the ground. The aircraft subsequently veered off the unpaved runway to the left, eventually coming to a stop at the right edge of the paved runway. There were no fatalities among the two occupants, who evacuated the aircraft safely, but the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a loss of rudder effectiveness following a stall maneuver.
- The aircraft's lateral instability during the flare phase led to ground contact by the wing tips and propeller.