What happened
On October 20, 2017, a Cessna 182N, registration LN-DBY, was conducting a familiarization flight at Stord Airport Sørstokken (ENSO). The flight, operated by Bergen Fallskjermklubb, carried a pilot and an instructor. The mission involved performing various maneuvers and conducting landing circuits to familiarize the pilot with the aircraft type.
After two successful landings on runway 14, the crew attempted a third circuit designed to simulate an engine failure and subsequent emergency landing. During this approach, the aircraft was positioned too high on final approach. To correct the altitude, the pilot utilized a right sideslip. Because the pilot was seated in the left seat, this maneuver periodically obscured the view of the runway. Following the correction, the aircraft descended too low with an excessive sink rate, resulting in a hard landing on the main gear.
Upon inspection after the aircraft stopped, the crew discovered structural damage to the nose gear attachment, which had bent forward due to the impact, and damage to the propeller blades, which had struck the runway surface.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the flight profiles, weather conditions, and the actions of both the pilot and the instructor. The investigation noted that the wind conditions at the time involved an easterly-southeasterly flow of approximately 20 knots, which typically creates turbulent approaches at this airfield. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's decision-making process regarding when to intervene during the student's maneuvers.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an excessive sink rate during the final stage of the approach.
- The instructor's decision to allow the pilot to continue the maneuver without intervention contributed to the outcome; the instructor noted that while the pilot had control, the instructor chose not to correct the visibility issues caused by the sideslip to allow for a learning opportunity.
- The instructor failed to intervene or provide verbal corrections despite observing high sink rates during the two preceding landings.
- The instructor's delay in taking control or providing guidance left insufficient margin to prevent the impact once the landing became unstable.