What happened
On July 22, 2020, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight as part of a PPL(A) training program. After departing from Piotrków Trybunalski Airport (EPPT), the flight included landings at Rudniki (EPRLEC) and Kielce Masłów (EPKA) before returning to the departure airfield.
Upon attempting to land at Piotrków Trybunalski, the pilot failed to maintain a smooth touchdown, causing the TECNAM P2008-JC (registration SP-LFF) to bounce against the runway three times. During the third impact, the nose landing gear strut broke. The subsequent impact caused damage to the propeller and the engine cowling. The student pilot sustained no injuries and exited the aircraft following instructions from the supervising instructor.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of events and the environmental conditions present during the landing phase. The investigation focused on the pilot's technique during the touchdown and the impact of weather conditions on the aircraft's stability on the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error in landing technique, specifically failing to maintain control during a high-speed touchdown and improperly managing the subsequent bounces.
- The landing was performed under crosswind conditions, which contributed to the difficulty of the maneuver.