What happened
On July 5, 2013, an Aquila AT01, registration F-GXMV, was performing solo circuit training at the Toussus-le-Noble aerodrome. During the second circuit, the student pilot was approached by air traffic control with a question regarding her intentions. The pilot interpreted the controller's inquiry as a direct instruction to perform a full stop landing.
Approaching with slightly excessive speed and a light crosswind component, the pilot experienced an initial bounce during the landing phase. Following two subsequent bounces, the nose gear suffered a structural failure due to high static stress, causing the aircraft to come to a halt on the runway. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's radio communications and the sequence of the landing. Analysis of radio recordings revealed that the student pilot failed to identify the flight as solo and did not properly acknowledge instructions to align with the runway. Furthermore, the pilot failed to respond to two warnings from the controller regarding other traffic in the circuit.
The investigation examined the controller's communication style, noting that a question phrased with rising intonation was perceived by the pilot as an imperative command. The physical examination of the aircraft confirmed that the nose gear failure was the result of high static loads during the landing sequence.
Findings
- The controller used ambiguous syntax that the student pilot interpreted as an order to land.
- The pilot demonstrated a lack of proficiency in radio communications, likely due to increased stress levels during the flight.
- This stress, compounded by the perceived command from the controller, degraded the pilot's performance during the landing flare.
- The pilot was unable to manage the landing energy, leading to the series of bounces that caused the gear failure.