Accident Details
On 2 September 2013 at 16:25 local time, an AERO AT3 R100 (registration F-GNMZ) operated by a flying club was on a solo instructional flight as part of the student's PPL training, consisting of a triangular navigation from Toussus-le-Noble to Auxerre to Orléans Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel. The first leg proceeded normally. The student joined the traffic circuit for runway 23 (paved) at Orléans Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel. He reported that final approach was stable, with no turbulence and a light crosswind. He configured the aircraft for landing and maintained 60 kt. He noted that the flare was slightly high. During landing, the aircraft bounced, then settled forward, slid, and came to a stop on the left edge of the runway. The nose landing gear was fractured.
Additional Information
Meteorological conditions were compatible with a solo instructional flight for the planned navigation. The METAR at Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel at 14:30 reported variable wind from 310° to 080° at 4 to 5 kt. The last wind passed to the pilot by the AFIS agent at landing was 360° at 4 kt. The AFIS agent in the tower observed the aircraft land "flat, a little hard, bounce, and take an unusual nose-down attitude." The student, aged 55, had 45 hours of total flight time, all on type, including 13 hours as pilot-in-command. He stated that his instructors had sometimes criticized him for flaring slightly high. Examination of the nose landing gear showed abrasion marks from contact with the runway and a fracture at the attachment plate of the strut to the wheel fork. No pre-existing damage that could have facilitated the fracture initiation was observed at the fracture site.
Conclusion
The BEA concluded the accident was due to the pilot's insufficient mastery of the landing technique. The pilot did not manage to control his flare, which he began slightly high. The nose landing gear fractured on touchdown, causing the aircraft's nose to drop and slide forward on the forward part of the gear until it stopped at the edge of the runway.