What happened
The incident occurred following a brief takeoff from the runway. During the climb-out phase, the instructor pilot initiated a training exercise by retarding the throttle of the left engine to idle, thereby simulating an engine failure. In response, the student pilot retarded the throttle of the remaining right engine to idle as well. The student then extended full flaps to increase drag and reduce lift.
After the instructor pilot assumed control of the aircraft, they attempted to flare for landing at an altitude of approximately 20 feet above the runway surface. During this critical phase of flight, the airspeed deteriorated significantly. This loss of speed resulted in a hard landing that caused structural failure of the left main landing gear.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear had collapsed due to the excessive vertical load imposed by the hard landing. The sequence of events indicated that the combination of full flap deployment and reduced airspeed during the flare contributed to the loss of lift necessary to sustain a safe touchdown.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the accident included the deterioration of airspeed during the flare maneuver and the subsequent hard landing. The training scenario involving simulated engine failure required precise energy management, which was not maintained at the critical moment of touchdown.