Accident to Jodel in Switzerland 30.5.2019

[l.garey]

I am sorry to record that Jodel D140R HB-SFR crashed shortly after takeoff from the airfield at La Côte (LSGP) near Geneva at about 1700 30 May 2019. Sadly one person died and two were seriously injured.
https://www.lacote.ch/articles/regio...d-avion-844411
Laurence

[DaveReidUK]

Interesting to note that it was an Abeille (the relatively rare glider-tug variant) rather than a regular D140 Mousquetaire, though there's no suggestion it was towing one at the time (unlikely with 3 up).

The same aircraft was involved in a previous accident 3 years ago when it lost a main gear leg during a landing at Croix de Coeur.

[l.garey]

Yes indeed Dave there was that accident at Croix de Coeur (a mountain strip above Verbier) when the gear collapsed on landing. No question of glider towing then or this time. There are none based at La Côte. This was my club but I haven't yet any details from my friends. It has been announced that the deceased was the "chef de place" (like CFI) who, I know personally, was very experienced (ex Swiss Air Force and Swissair). Weather was beautiful with a light east wind. The crash site was in an open field some few hundred meters from, and in line with, the runway.

Laurence

[l.garey]

In happier days

[ATC Watcher]

The Abeille is a beautiful and superb aircraft to fly , the French air force still has a few that will come for sale in the near future. They will go fast .
RIP to you friends Laurence ... very sad .

[Vilters]

I flew a D-120 for a long time. They are great machines with outstanding performance for the hp.
Our club had a Abeille as towing machine, with a second role of flying tours, but replaced it by a Piper Pawnee when the tours became less popular.
With proper maintenance, they age gracefully.

[l.garey]

Thanks ATC Watcher. The two people injured are slowly recovering, but one remains in intensive care. Our club and the family arranged the funeral for Daniel at the airfield on 5 June. The memorial was very touching and several hundred people attended on a bright spring afternoon. Many of the based aircraft participated in a final goodbye flypast, including a Missing Man formation. Highlights were a heart painted in smoke in the sky by the Captens aerobatic team from nearby Annecy, and a flypast by two FA-18s of the Swiss Air Force, commemorating Daniel's time flying the Mirage III.

Still no firm news from the enquiry for what remains a mystery.

Missing Man


Missing Man, as the club Bücker peels away.

Laurence

[l.garey]

I found the enquiry report https://www.sust.admin.ch/inhalte/AV-berichte/2375.pdf.
In French, but basically says the engine failed to produce enough power during or soon after takeoff. The instructor took over from the pilot but could not establish a safe climb. The injector regulator was blocked. Some criticism was levelled in that the regulator had not been revised since 1986. I am no expert but I gather that after the accident to the aircraft in 2016 it should have been revised. There is a reference to the fact that the accident might have been suvivable for the instructor if he had fastened his shoulder harness (as had the other two occupants, who survived).
Laurence

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by l.garey

Some criticism was levelled in that the regulator had not been revised since 1986. I am no expert but I gather that after the accident to the aircraft in 2016 it should have been revised.

I think the term "révisé" used in the report is better translated here as "overhauled".

[Pilot DAR]

There is a reference to the fact that the accident might have been survivable for the instructor if he had fastened his shoulder harness

A reality, well worth remembering.

[l.garey]

Thanks Dave. Quite right!
Pilot DAR: I once had a failed go-around in a Cessna 170 that only had lap straps. Result: passenger with a broken jaw. Still on my mind 45 years later
Laurence