Accident Details
On 20 August 2021, a Tecnam P2008JC aircraft, registration SP-LFK, was involved in an accident at Piotrków Trybunalski airport (EPPT). The aircraft was on its fourth solo flight when the student pilot landed short of the runway threshold on uneven grass. After touchdown, the aircraft bounced three times, a phenomenon referred to as kangaroos, before the nose gear strut fractured and propeller blades broke off. The student pilot exited the aircraft unaided and sustained no injuries.
Cause
The Polish State Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation determined that the accident resulted from an error in piloting technique — specifically, unskillful correction of the kangaroos after touchdown and after the aircraft bounced before reaching the usable portion of the runway.
Contributing Factors
Several circumstances were identified as contributing to the accident: improper planning for landing on uneven grass, resulting in an undershoot; the supervising instructor's failure to advise the student to correct the approach path; and potential fatigue due to a large number of flights performed that same day, shortly before the solo check flight.
Preventive Actions
Following the accident, the aircraft operator implemented several preventive measures: the student pilot received additional training as defined by the HT LFA; a limit of three circuits in initial solo flights was imposed, followed by mandatory rest; a procedure requiring a go-around after a kangaroo landing or unstable approach was introduced; and the incident was discussed during an instructor meeting.