What happened
On August 21, 2020, during a solo flight, a student pilot was operating a Tecnam P2008JC, registration SP-LFK, at Piotrków Trybunalski Airport (EPPT). While attempting to land on an uneven grass surface before the threshold of the runway, the aircraft touched down prematurely. This initial contact caused the aircraft to lift off the ground again, leading to a series of three subsequent bounces, often referred to as "kangaroo" movements.
The repeated impacts caused the aircraft to sustain significant structural damage, specifically the breakage of the nose landing gear strut and the bending of the propeller blades. Following the cessation of movement, the student pilot exited the cockpit safely and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the pilot's management of the aircraft during the bounces. The investigation examined the landing conditions, the pilot's technique, and the environmental factors, including the surface condition of the grass area and the pilot's recent flight history.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was a pilot error in flight technique, specifically the failure to properly manage the aircraft's oscillations following the initial touchdown and subsequent bounces before reaching the usable portion of the runway.
Several contributing factors were identified:
- Improper landing planning regarding the use of the uneven grass surface.
- A landing attempt characterized by an undershoot.
- A lack of corrective guidance from the supervising instructor regarding the approach path.
- Potential pilot fatigue resulting from a high volume of flights performed on the same day, immediately preceding a solo flight qualification exam.
Safety action
The aircraft operator has implemented several corrective measures, including:
- Providing additional training for the student pilot.
- Limiting the number of circuits during initial solo flights to three, followed by mandatory rest periods.
- Implementing a mandatory go-around procedure in the event of bounces or unstable approaches.
- Reviewing the incident with the instructional staff.