What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2004-10-03 involved a INCIDENT 3 octobre 2004 - avion, at FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inability to properly manage the aircraft's lateral movement during the flare phase in crosswind conditions led to the runway excursion.

Robin DR 221 runway excursion during crosswind landing

A pilot experienced a runway excursion at Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole after failing to properly manage a crosswind landing in a Robin DR 221.

What happened

On October 3, 2004, a Robin DR 221 with registration F-BOZS was performing local circuit patterns at Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole aerodrome. During the first approach to runway 12 left, the aircraft landed left of the centerline, causing the plane to exit the runway perimeter to the left. Following this excursion, the pilot initiated a go-around. During this maneuver, witnesses observed the aircraft deviate approximately thirty degrees from the runway axis, passing between a windsock and a nearby helicopter before flying over a residential area at low altitude. The pilot then rejoined the airfield on a second approach to runway 12 left. During this second landing attempt, the aircraft again drifted left of the runway axis, eventually coming to a stop approximately one meter from the edge of the unpaved runway.

The investigation

The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's mechanical condition, and the environmental factors present during the flight. The aircraft, a tailwheel type, underwent inspection which revealed no mechanical anomalies. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident involved a 10-knot wind from 180 degrees.

The pilot's flight records indicated that while he held a PPL obtained in 1998, he had accumulated only approximately 192 total hours, with about 40 hours on this specific type. His recent activity was limited, with only 2 hours and 50 minutes of flight time in the three months preceding the accident. The investigation also noted that the pilot had expressed apprehension to an instructor regarding flying solo on runway 12 under the prevailing crosswind conditions. An instructor who had flown with the pilot noted a lack of proficiency during the flare and deceleration phases, recalling a previous instance where the pilot had requested the instructor to take control during the flare.

Findings

The primary cause of the runway excursion was insufficient mastery of the flare technique during a crosswind landing.
The pilot failed to adequately coordinate rudder and aileron inputs to counteract the wind.
The pilot's recent experience on this aircraft type was low, and he was experiencing moderate fatigue, which may have reduced his vigilance.
The pilot's decision to continue the flight despite expressed apprehension regarding the crosswind conditions contributed to the event.