What happened
On September 28, 2016, a Cessna 182T, registration LN-TRE, was conducting landing training at Bardufoss Airport. The flight, operated by the University of Tromsø School of Aviation, included an instructor and two students. During the session, the instructor intended to demonstrate the consequences of improper elevator use during an engine power reduction maneuver following takeoff.
To perform the exercise, the instructor selected a climb speed of Vx (best rate of climb) with 10 degrees of flaps. As the engine power was reduced, the aircraft' and airspeed dropped to between 50 and 55 knots, leading to a significant sink rate. Although the instructor applied power at approximately 40 feet to arrest the descent, the aircraft struck the runway with all three wheels simultaneously. The impact caused a hard landing that resulted in damage to the landing gear, the firewall, the rear structure, and the lower engine cowling. Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced, and the crew performed a subsequent full-stop landing. During the rollout, the instructor noted that the nosewheel steering was not functioning correctly.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the flight parameters and the training procedures used by the flight school. The investigation noted that the aircraft was flying at a weight of 1,342 kg, which was 65 kg below its maximum takeoff mass. The investigation also reviewed the school's training curriculum, noting that while engine failure drills after takeoff were mandatory, the specific airspeed to be maintained during such maneuvers had not been previously specified.
Findings
- The hard landing was caused by excessive sink rate resulting from reduced engine power combined with low airspeed, a high angle of attack, and low altitude.
- The relatively heavy weight of the aircraft may have contributed to the severity of the sink rate.
- The use of Vx speed during the maneuver left a dangerously small margin before a stall occurred.
Following the incident, the flight school issued a safety bulletin mandating that such exercises must be performed at a speed no lower than Vy (best rate of climb) to increase airspeed and reduce the angle of attack, thereby providing a better safety margin.