Incident Overview
On 23 February 2010 at 12:30 LMT, a Cessna 172 (registration SP-TAM) operated by the Runway Flight Training Organization (FTO) was involved in an incident during landing on runway 28 at EPBC airport. The aircraft was being flown by a student pilot on a supervised solo cross-country flight. The pilot was not injured, and the aircraft sustained minor damage to the left wing tip.
Sequence of Events
Prior to the flight, the student pilot completed navigation calculations and was briefed. The supervising instructor performed two check flights around the traffic pattern to assess the pilot's readiness and current weather conditions. The student departed on the cross-country leg at 11:18 LMT and completed the route successfully. Upon returning to EPBC, the pilot received clearance to enter the traffic pattern and land on runway 28. Babice Information reported wind from 210° at 3–4 m/s. The approach was executed correctly, and the pilot touched down on the centerline approximately 50–70 m from the runway threshold. After the nose wheel lowered, the aircraft began to drift to the right. The pilot applied aileron into the wind and increased pressure on the left brake to maintain directional control, but the aircraft continued turning right. The right main landing gear then entered snow on the runway edge, causing the aircraft to rotate 90° to the right and the left wing tip to contact the ground. The aircraft came to rest in a normal horizontal attitude on its landing gear. The pilot immediately shut down the engine and all systems, cut off fuel, and reported the situation to Babice Information. A post-incident inspection revealed minor damage to the left wing tip.
Findings
Investigation determined that the runway surface in the touchdown and landing roll area on runway 28 was covered with a thin layer of compacted snow that had not been removed during snow clearing. The probable cause of the incident was the freezing of the right wheel brake during flight. Snow accumulated in the brake area during taxiing melted due to rising brake temperature, then refroze into ice as temperatures dropped after takeoff, locking the right wheel. On landing, the locked wheel caused a loss of directional control on the slippery runway. The student pilot's corrective action using the left brake was insufficient given the surface conditions.
Preventive Actions
Following the incident, the FTO Runway conducted a thorough briefing with flight personnel, emphasizing possible causes and procedures for coping with brake system unresponsiveness during landing. Proper winter operation of aircraft was discussed, along with landing techniques on snow-covered runways. Instructors were reminded to limit student solo flights to a necessary minimum whenever runway or taxiway conditions raise any concerns.
Probable Cause
The runway surface in the touchdown and landing roll area on runway 28 was covered with a thin layer of compacted snow that was not removed during snow clearing. The probable cause of the incident could be freezing of the right wheel brake during flight. Snow accumulated in the brake area melted and then refroze into ice, locking the right wheel.