What happened
On April 17, 2014, a Jodel D113, registration F-PJIL, was conducting a dual flight instruction session for the purpose of obtaining a taildragger rating. The flight originated from Chambéry - Challesles-Eaux, with the crew intending to perform touch-and-go exercises at the Belley-Peyrieu aerodrome.
Upon approaching the aerodrome, the crew observed a north wind and elected to land on runway 36. During the initial approach, the pilot maintained a high airspeed and a high glide path. At the instructor's request, the landing was aborted to perform a low-altitude second circuit. During the subsequent landing attempt, the aircraft bounced and floated along the runway. Although the pilot inquired about performing a go-around, the instructor directed the pilot to continue the landing.
The aircraft touched down at the two-thirds mark of the runway. Despite braking efforts, the aircraft failed to stop before reaching the end of the runway. As the aircraft exited the runway, the instructor took control to steer the aircraft to the left to avoid a nearby hedge. During this low-speed turn, the aircraft encountered a slope change, causing the right main landing gear to collapse.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight profiles, the meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's mechanical configuration. Investigators noted that while the initial wind was from the north, the wind had shifted to a south-southwest direction by the time of the landing, resulting in a tailwind component.
Technical analysis of the aircraft revealed that the Jodel D110 is a taildragger configuration where braking pedals are only available on the left side. This limitation meant the instructor, who was seated in the right seat, could not actively assist with braking control during the excursion. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the runway characteristics, noting that runway 36 features a 1.5% downgrade on its second half, which contributed to the increased landing roll.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the instructor's decision to continue the landing following a bounce.
- The selection of runway 36 contributed to the accident, as it resulted in a tailwind component and an increased landing distance due to the downward slope of the runway.
- The aircraft's braking configuration, with pedals only accessible to the left-seat occupant, prevented the instructor from effectively managing the braking during the overrun.