What happened
On August 28, 1982, at 18:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registration CS-ADX, was performing a flight from Santa Cruz to Viseu. The aircraft was operated by the pilot, who was accompanied by three passengers. During the final approach to runway 01, the aircraft experienced lateral drift to the right caused by a 10-knot wind from 270 degrees.
In response to the drift, the pilot attempted to apply power; however, due to the abruptness of the movement, the engine did not provide an immediate response. To prevent further lateral displacement, the pilot forced the aircraft into a landing. This maneuver resulted in a heavy nose-down impact with the ground, causing the nose gear tire to burst. The subsequent compression of the shock absorber allowed the propeller tips to strike the ground, resulting in bent propeller blades and damage to the propeller rim. Following the impact, the aircraft veered to the left and came to a halt near the left edge of the runway. There were no fatalities or injuries among the four occupants.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight history, meteorological conditions, and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was in a fully airworthy condition and the pilot held a valid private pilot license. The investigation focused on the pilot's reaction to the crosswind component and the physical impact of the landing on the landing gear and propeller.