What happened
On July 16, 2017, a pilot and a passenger were conducting a flight from Wrocław (EPWS) to Warsaw (EPBC) using a rented AT-3 aircraft. After completing the pre-flight inspection and taxiing, the aircraft departed Wrocław at 13:35 local time. The flight proceeded along the planned route.
Upon arrival at EPBC, the pilot received clearance to land on runway 28. To facilitate the approach, the pilot deployed flaps to the 40-degree position and reduced engine power. During the landing roll, the aircraft bounced off the runway surface. Following this bounce, the aircraft made secondary contact with the ground, causing the nose of the aircraft to strike the runway. This impact resulted in damage to the propeller and the nose landing gear.
Both the pilot and the passenger were able to exit the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the pilot's control inputs following the initial contact with the runway. The investigation examined the aircraft's configuration, specifically the use of high flap settings, and the physical impact of the aircraft against the runway surface.