Region
Crash of an Airbus A320-232 off Saint-Cyprien: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 27, 2008 at 1646 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-AXLA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Perpignan - Frankfurt
MSN:
2500
YOM:
2005
Flight number:
GXL888T
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total hours on type:
7038.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
5529
Aircraft flight hours:
10124
Aircraft flight cycles:
3931
Circumstances:
Flight GXL888T from Perpignan-Rivesaltes aerodrome was undertaken in the context of the end of a leasing agreement, before the return of D-AXLA to its owner. The program of planned checks could not be performed in general air traffic, so the flight was shortened. In level flight at FL320, angle of attack sensors 1 and 2 stopped moving and their positions did not change until the end of the flight. After about an hour of flight, the airplane returned to the departure aerodrome airspace and the crew was cleared to carry out an ILS procedure to runway 33, followed by a go around and a departure towards Frankfurt/Main (Germany). Shortly before overflying the initial approach fix, the crew carried out the check on the angle of attack protections in normal law. They lost control of the airplane, which crashed into the sea.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the loss of control of the airplane by the crew following the improvised demonstration of the functioning of the angle of attack protections, while the blockage of the angle of attack sensors made it impossible for these protections to trigger. The crew was not aware of the blockage of the angle of attack sensors. They did not take into account the speeds mentioned in the program of checks available to them and consequently did not stop the demonstration before the stall.
The following factors contributed to the accident:
• The decision to carry out the demonstration at a low height
• The crew’s management, during the thrust increase, of the strong increase in the longitudinal pitch, the crew not having identified the pitch-up stop position of the horizontal stabilizer nor acted on the trim wheel to correct it, nor reduced engine thrust
• The crew having to manage the conduct of the flight, follow the program of in-flight checks, adapted during the flight, and the preparation of the following stage, which greatly increased the workload and led the crew to improvise according to the constraints encountered
• The decision to use a flight program developed for crews trained for test flights, which led the crew to undertake checks without knowing their aim
• The absence of a regulatory framework in relation to non-revenue flights in the areas of air traffic management, of operations and of operational aspects
• The absence of consistency in the rinsing task in the airplane cleaning procedure, and in particular the absence of protection of the AOA sensors, during rinsing with water of the airplane three days before the flight. This led to the blockage of the AOA sensors through freezing of the water that was able to penetrate inside the sensor bodies.
The following factors also probably contributed to the accident:
• Inadequate coordination between an atypical team composed of three airline pilots in the cockpit
• The fatigue that may have reduced the crew’s awareness of the various items of information relating to the state of the systems.
The following factors contributed to the accident:
• The decision to carry out the demonstration at a low height
• The crew’s management, during the thrust increase, of the strong increase in the longitudinal pitch, the crew not having identified the pitch-up stop position of the horizontal stabilizer nor acted on the trim wheel to correct it, nor reduced engine thrust
• The crew having to manage the conduct of the flight, follow the program of in-flight checks, adapted during the flight, and the preparation of the following stage, which greatly increased the workload and led the crew to improvise according to the constraints encountered
• The decision to use a flight program developed for crews trained for test flights, which led the crew to undertake checks without knowing their aim
• The absence of a regulatory framework in relation to non-revenue flights in the areas of air traffic management, of operations and of operational aspects
• The absence of consistency in the rinsing task in the airplane cleaning procedure, and in particular the absence of protection of the AOA sensors, during rinsing with water of the airplane three days before the flight. This led to the blockage of the AOA sensors through freezing of the water that was able to penetrate inside the sensor bodies.
The following factors also probably contributed to the accident:
• Inadequate coordination between an atypical team composed of three airline pilots in the cockpit
• The fatigue that may have reduced the crew’s awareness of the various items of information relating to the state of the systems.
Final Report:
Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Betz
Date & Time:
Jun 15, 2008
Operator:
Registration:
F-AZHB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lille - Lognes
MSN:
173 473 09
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Lille-Lesquin to Lognes-Emerainville Airport, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing in a field located in Betz, about 45 km northeast of Lognes. On touchdown, the aircraft sank into muddy field, overturned and came to rest upside down. All four occupants were rescued, among them a passenger was slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair and was later cannibalised.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.
Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Berdoues
Date & Time:
Jun 1, 2008 at 1700 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-GJHZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berdoues - Berdoues
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
31.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, owner of the airplane and manager of the Berdoues Aerodrome, offered a first flight to five people with whom he enjoyed the day and lunch. Arriving at the airport, he spotted a large cumulonimbus to the west of the airport, approaching the runway. He thought he was able to perform the flight before weather conditions would deteriorate and decided to complete a flapless takeoff as usual. While taxiing to the runway and passing in front of the windsock, he realized the wind was from the south at 30 knots. He completed engine test on the runway 08 threshold then started the takeoff procedure. Just prior to rotation, while passing again in front of the windsock, he realized the wind changed and was now from the tail with the same speed. As it was too late to abandon the takeoff procedure, he decided to continue. The single engine airplane took off but encountered difficulties to gain height. It descended, struck a grassy area located past the runway end then struck small trees located 200 meters further. On impact, it lost its undercarriage and its left wing before coming to rest in a pasture located 300 meters from the runway end. All six occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to take into consideration weather conditions prior to the flight after his judgment and capabilities were impaired due to alcohol consumption. An hour and 15 minutes after the accident, a blood test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0,98‰. Investigations reported that according to wind and weather conditions, a distance of 1,300 meters was necessary for takeoff while the runway 08 is 780 meters long.
Final Report:
