Incident Overview
On 19 September 2015, at approximately 12:00 local time, a Robin DR400, registered F-GFXZ, operated by a flying club, was involved in a runway excursion during a solo training flight at Annecy Meythet aerodrome (74). The aircraft sustained heavy damage. The pilot was the sole occupant.
Flight History
After a dual navigational flight, the instructor authorized the pilot to perform three solo circuits. The pilot took off and completed a first touch-and-go landing on runway 04. During the second landing, the pilot manipulated the controls to "accompany the lowering of the nose and the nose wheel touchdown." When the nose wheel contacted the runway, the aircraft veered sharply to the left and exited the runway laterally. The pilot managed to maintain control and rolled the aircraft on the grass parallel to the runway. As the aircraft slowed, the nose wheel struck a concrete slab protruding a few centimeters above the ground, causing the nose gear to fold under the fuselage. The aircraft came to a stop approximately ten meters from the runway.
Weather and Pilot Experience
The pilot reported meteorological conditions as wind from the west at 3 knots and CAVOK. The pilot had a total of 9 flight hours, including two supervised solo circuits.
Conclusion from the Investigation
The investigation concluded that the pilot's action of accompanying the nose lowering did not sufficiently compress the nose landing gear shock absorber and unlock the nose wheel, leading to the loss of directional control.