What happened
On March 2, 2004, a Jodel D 140 R aircraft, registration F-BOPT, was engaged in a flight training mission when it veered off the landing area of the La Grande Motte glacier. The flight departed from Grenoble Le Versoud with an instructor and a student pilot. After performing two reconnaissance passes of the glacier landing strip, the student pilot entered the landing circuit.
During the final approach and touchdown, the student pilot reduced engine power immediately after the skis made contact with the snow. The instructor noted that the aircraft's speed remained too high and took control of the aircraft, reducing power to idle and attempting to initiate a left turn using the rudder. However, the aircraft failed to turn and continued straight, exiting the designated landing area. The aircraft crossed a groomed snow path and slid down a bank approximately 1.5 meters high before coming to a stop. The incident resulted in damage to the left wing and the left main landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's handling characteristics during the landing phase. A key element examined was the recent maintenance performed on the aircraft's skis. The instructor had applied grease to the skis earlier that morning to facilitate easier takeoffs from a different glacier strip planned for later in the flight. This was the first landing performed by the aircraft since the application of the grease.