What happened
On July 4, 2020, an Aeroprakt A-32, registration SP-SMTT, was performing a private flight from Wola Krakowiańska to Babięta (EPBB). During the landing phase at the Babięta airfield, the pilot attempted a three-point landing. However, the aircraft lost airspeed during the flare maneuver, causing it to drop from a low altitude.
Upon contact with the runway, the impact caused the front landing gear to break. This structural failure led the aircraft to strike the ground with the forward fuselage, resulting in a broken propeller and damage to the lower engine cowling. The pilot, who had 100 total flight hours, was able to exit the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of events leading to the landing gear failure. The investigation focused on the flight phase, the pilot's maneuvers during the flare, and the resulting damage to the aircraft's airframe and propeller.