What happened
On 21 April 2021, a student pilot was conducting solo training flights at Dęblin Aerodrome (EPDE) in a Diamond DA20-C1, registration SP-NDI. During a landing on runway 30, the aircraft touched down on its nose wheel, triggering a bounce on the runway.
In response to the initial bounce, the student pilot moved the control stick forward. This action caused the aircraft to bounce several more times. During this sequence, the supervising flight instructor, monitoring from the ground, instructed the pilot to "stop the stick" and "hold the stick in place" rather than ordering an immediate go-around.
Following the multiple bounces, the student pilot initiated a go-around procedure. During the subsequent climb, the pilot reported intense vibrations and unstable engine parameters. Following instructions from instructors, the pilot performed a shortened circuit and landed. Upon vacating the runway, the pilot reported difficulties with taxiing. A subsequent inspection revealed that the aircraft's propeller and the nose landing gear strut and damper had sustained damage.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, meteorological data, and radio communications. The investigation reviewed the student pilot's training history, noting significant breaks in flight training and the use of multiple instructors and aircraft types. Investigators also analyzed wind conditions, finding that the actual wind during the landing included a significant tailwind component that differed from the initial forecast.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the incorrect reaction to the bounced landing.
- A contributing factor was the presence of a tailwind during the landing phase.
- The student pilot lacked sufficient skills to manage a safe landing under tailwind conditions and failed to react correctly to the initial bounce.
- The student pilot's training history was characterized by long intervals between flight sessions and transitions between different aircraft models.
- The supervising instructor did not instruct the pilot to abort the landing and perform a go-around immediately after the first bounce.