What happened
On February 15, 2022, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9, registration N821RR, was involved in an accident at Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) near Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico. The aircraft was being operated by Air Flamenco as part of a Part 91 instructional flight. The crew included a flight instructor, a pilot receiving instruction, and a pilot-rated passenger; none were injured.
The pilot, a recent hire who had completed ground school but was performing his first flight in the aircraft, was executing his first landing at this airport. The approach was flown at approximately 80 knots and about 100 feet above the normal flightpath. Following a three-point, flat landing, the aircraft immediately veered to the right and exited the right side of the runway. While the pilot reported that wind was not a factor, the instructor noted that the aircraft experienced strong wind conditions that caused it to slide off the runway. The instructor also observed that the nosewheel turned 90 degrees to the right upon touchdown, making directional control difficult.
The investigation
An investigation by the FAA included an examination of the wreckage and runway witness marks. Investigators found evidence of propeller strikes and orange paint transfer on the runway. The right propeller blades showed tip curling, and the right wingtip exhibited impact damage and asphalt transfer. The right wing structure sustained substantial damage, including a twisted downward orientation and deformation of the wing root, spars, ribs, and stringers. All fracture surfaces showed a dull, grainy appearance consistent with overstress separation.
Examination of the nosewheel revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. Additionally, data from Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited indicated that the observed damage to the rear spar web and spar caps was consistent with a hard landing exceeding design limit loads by 20% to 50%.
Findings
- The pilot's approach speed was at the upper limit of the allowable speed.
- The flight instructor selected a challenging airport environment for an initial training flight.
- The aircraft's descent rate during landing likely exceeded its capability, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent structural failure of the right wing.