What happened
On March 16, 2005, at 16:30, a Robin DR 400-180, registered F-GXGI, was preparing for a return flight from Sarlat Aerodrome following a navigation flight from Bordeaux Mérignac. The aircraft was operated by a flying club and carried a pilot and one child.
During the takeoff roll on runway 11, the pilot attempted to rotate the aircraft but encountered significant resistance in the elevator control. Believing the elevator mechanism might be jammed, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the pilot applied heavy braking. This caused the wheels to lock, leading to the bursting of the main landing gear tires and causing the aircraft to veer left off the paved surface. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 70 meters before the runway threshold.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the configuration of the aircraft's flight controls and the pilot's pre-takeoff procedures. Investigators examined the elevator and trim controls, finding no mechanical anomalies or obstructions in the control surfaces. However, the trim tab was found in the full nose-down position following the incident.
Review of the club's pilot documentation revealed that several checklist items regarding the trim tab's movement and setting were required during pre-flight and engine start phases. The investigation also looked into the pilot's execution of these checks, noting that while the pilot used a checklist booklet, the visual verification of the trim indicator was not sufficiently thorough.