What happened
On July 19, 2015, at 18:32 UTC, a BRM Land Africa Impala, registration CS-URZ, was performing a local solo instruction flight at Santa Maria Airport (LPAZ) in the Azores. After completing the first circuit pattern for runway 18, the student pilot attempted a touch-and-go maneuver. During this phase, the pilot experienced a hard contact with the runway surface, which immediately triggered a nose gear collapse. The nose of the aircraft dropped abruptly, causing the propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft came to a halt a few meters ahead of the impact point, sustaining minor damage. The student pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the structural integrity of the aircraft's landing gear and the operational procedures for the model. The investigation reviewed the aircraft's maintenance and operation manual, noting that while the manual requires a visual inspection of the landing gear every 25 hours, it lacks specific instructions for detailed inspections of critical components, such as checking the fork attachments for cracks. The investigators also analyzed the regulatory framework for ultralight aircraft in Portugal, finding that existing national regulations regarding construction and licensing are outdated and do not meet the needs of the modern aeronautical community.
Findings
- The structural strength of the nose gear components was exceeded, either due to an excessive static load during the landing or because of pre-existing material fatigue.
- There was evidence of material fatigue at the connection between the leg and the fork in analyzed cases.
- The aircraft's operation and maintenance manual does not provide clear or unambiguous instructions for the detailed inspection of critical components, such as the fork attachment, which are necessary to detect cracks.
- The existing national regulatory framework for ultralight aircraft construction and operation is outdated and lacks technical standards for the validation of aeronautical engineering projects.