What happened
On June 25, 2017, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight at the Dęblin Aerodrome (EPDE) as part of a specific flight syllabus. The flight proceeded normally until the approach for landing. During the final stages of the descent, the pilot, who had the air brakes partially deployed, opened them to a much greater extent. This sudden increase in drag caused the SZD-50-3 Puchacz to lose lift and drop abruptly, resulting in a hard landing.
The impact caused structural damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting the main landing gear and the rear portion of its composite fairing.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the aircraft operator, established that the sequence of events was triggered by the pilot's manual input during the landing pattern. The investigation focused on the flight parameters and the mechanical state of the air brakes at the moment of the descent deviation.