What happened
On February 29, 2020, a PZL Koliber 160A, registration SP-GZB, was performing a series of flight maneuvers at Warsaw-Babice Airport (EPBC). The pilot, flying a private VFR flight, had completed several circuits and attempted a landing. Due to unstable wind conditions, the pilot aborted the landing attempt and initiated a go-around.
During the go-around phase, while at an altitude of approximately 2.0 meters above the runway, the pilot increased engine power. This action caused the aircraft to pitch up and subsequently stall. The aircraft tilted to the left wing, making contact with the concrete runway (RWY 10R). The impact caused the aircraft to veer approximately 90 degrees to the left, eventually coming to a stop on the adjacent grass area of RWY 10L. No injuries were sustained by the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation utilized airport surveillance footage to analyze the flight path and stability of the aircraft. The analysis confirmed that the landing approach was unstable, with the aircraft oscillating between left and right wing banks at low speeds.
Investigators calculated that during the go-around, the aircraft's ground speed was approximately 41 knots, resulting in an indicated airspeed (IAS) of roughly 44 knots. This was significantly below the required approach speed of 65 knots and near the stall speed of 49 knots for the configuration used. The investigation also reviewed wind data from the airport's windsock, which indicated variable gusts between 3 and 15 knots during the period preceding the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error during the landing phase, specifically inducing a stall during a go-around initiated at too high an altitude.
- The pilot had limited flight experience, with only approximately 50 total hours on type and very low recent flight time (30 minutes in the preceding 30 days).
- Wind gusts were present during the event, contributing to the unstable approach.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken nose gear, a lost main gear wheel, and damage to the left wing, propeller, and engine cowling.