Incident Overview
On April 16, 2015, at 09:44 local time, an FFA AS202/15-1/16M "Bravo" with registration HB-HFK crashed approximately one kilometer northwest of the Lausanne-La Blécherette aerodrome (LSGL) in the commune of Romanel, Vaud. The aircraft was operated by Air-Espace S. à r. l. and was engaged in a visual flight rules (VFR) training exercise for a private pilot license.
Flight Details and Crew
The crew consisted of a French instructor holding an EASA Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL(A)) with 1,687 total hours, and a Swiss student pilot with 26 total hours. The aircraft was powered by a Lycoming O-320-D2A engine producing 118 kW. Prior to the accident, no performance issues had been noted during training flights on April 14 and 15.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll from runway 36, the student pilot lifted off at approximately 60 MPH after a ground run of about 280 meters. Immediately after leaving the ground, the aircraft exhibited an unstable flight state characterized by a nose-up attitude of 14 degrees and a right bank angle varying between 1.5 and 6.0 degrees. The airspeed remained low at 60 MPH, and the rate of climb was insufficient.
The instructor took control of the aircraft but was unable to gain altitude. At the end of the runway, the aircraft was approximately 45 meters left of the centerline, traveling at about 70 MPH ground speed at an altitude of roughly 12 meters. The instructor selected a field to the left for an emergency landing. During the descent and subsequent hard contact with the ground, the left main landing gear broke. The aircraft skidded for approximately 250 meters before the left wing collapsed and touched the ground, causing the plane to rotate 120 degrees to the left and come to rest in a cultivated field.
Damage and Injuries
Both occupants exited the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate upon impact. The aircraft sustained severe damage to the landing gear and the left wing. Minor environmental damage included slight soil pollution and minor crop damage. No fire occurred.