What happened
On February 27, 2015, a Tecnam P2008, registration F-HJYR, was performing a solo instructional flight at the Plessis-Belleville aerodrome. During the takeoff roll on runway 25, the pilot experienced a sudden and violent leftward deviation from the runway centerline. As the aircraft exited the paved surface, the nose gear struck a hole in the ground, resulting in its structural failure. The aircraft sustained heavy damage during the excursion.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's experience and the aircraft's handling characteristics. At the time of the accident, the pilot, who had previously been a private pilot since 1985 but had not flown since 1988, had only accumulated 6 flight hours since resuming training in November 2014. This specific flight marked the pilot's first solo flight since returning to flight training.
Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, noting a METAR from Paris Charles de Gaulle indicated a wind of 320° at 13 knots. Given that runway 25 is oriented at a magnetic heading of 247°, the wind was a crosswind from the right. The pilot suggested that a sudden gust might have caused the deviation, though investigators noted that a right crosswind would not account for a leftward excursion. Additionally, the investigation noted that the nose wheel of this Tecnam P2008 is not linked to the rudder pedals.
Findings
- The primary cause of the runway excursion was insufficient lateral control of the aircraft during the takeoff roll.
- The pilot's lack of recent experience, having only 6 hours of flight time since resuming training, may have contributed to the difficulty in managing the aircraft's directional stability.
- To counteract the gyroscopic effect of the propeller during power application, the use of differential braking is necessary until the rudder becomes aerodynamically effective.
- The investigation concluded that conducting a flight with an instructor immediately prior to a solo release could help ensure that both pilot performance and environmental conditions are appropriate for solo operations.