What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight involving a commercial pilot operating a conventional gear aircraft. Prior to the event, the pilot had received 4.6 hours of dual instruction in this specific type of airplane. The sequence of events began with the pilot's first solo flight, during which two landings were executed without any issues or incidents.
During the third landing attempt, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. In an effort to recover, the pilot applied full power. Despite this action, the aircraft departed the left side of the runway. The exit from the paved surface resulted in damage to the right main landing gear. Weather conditions at the time included less than a 2-knot effective crosswind component, indicating calm wind conditions.
The investigation
The examination focused on the pilot's recent training history and the immediate circumstances of the accident. Records confirmed the limited dual instruction time of 4.6 hours prior to the solo flights. The mechanical inspection revealed damage specifically to the right main landing gear as a result of the runway excursion.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's loss of control during the landing phase and the subsequent runway departure. The right main landing gear was damaged due to the aircraft exiting the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to mitigate the situation by adding full power, but this did not prevent the ground contact.
Safety message
This event highlights the challenges pilots may face during early solo flights, particularly regarding directional control on the runway. Adequate training and experience are critical for managing aircraft handling during landing operations.