What happened
On June 13, 2020, a pilot operating under a PPL(A) license was conducting a flight from Chełm (EPCD) to Kielce (EPKA). During the final phase of the landing roll on runway 11 at EPKA, the left wingtip of the AT-3 aircraft, registration SP-CLF, made contact with the runway surface. The impact resulted in damage to the left aileron, the removal of a layer of paint from the underside of the wing, and damage to the wing skin.
At the time of the incident, the aircraft was experiencing a crosswind from 070 degrees at speeds of up to 15 knots, with gusts reaching 25 knots. According to the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook, the demonstrated handling characteristics are valid for crosswind components up to approximately 11 knots (6 m/s).
Following the incident, the pilot returned to Chełm. Despite performing a post-flight inspection, the pilot failed to report the damage to any relevant authorities or personnel.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the flight conditions, the aircraft's technical specifications regarding wind limits, and the pilot's post-flight actions. The investigation established that the meteorological conditions exceeded the certified operational limits for the aircraft type during the landing phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was landing in a crosswind that exceeded the aircraft's certified limits.
- An inadequate analysis of the meteorological conditions at the destination airport contributed to the event.
- The pilot failed to report the structural damage following the post-flight inspection.