What happened
On September 14, 2022, a pilot operating a Tecnam P2008 JC, registration SP-SCS, was performing training flights at the Chojna airfield. After completing several instructional flights, the pilot prepared for a solo cross-country flight between Chojna and Świnoujście. Following a successful takeoff, the pilot returned to Chojna and began the landing approach at 18:44.
During the landing flare, the aircraft was maintained at an altitude of 2 meters with a speed of 62 knots. Upon touchdown on the main wheels, the aircraft experienced a sudden jerk to the left. The nose gear subsequently left the concrete runway surface, causing the aircraft to bounce and veer onto the grass area to the left of the runway. While exiting the runway, the elevator struck a plastic barrier used to prevent vehicle access to the taxiway. The impact resulted in damage to the left stabilizer, the rear fuselage, and all three landing gear struts.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight maneuvers, the aircraft's mechanical condition, and the pilot's experience level. The pilot noted that the parking brake lever was in a middle position upon exiting the cockpit and suggested this might have caused the left wheel to brake; however, technical inspections confirmed the braking system could not function in that position. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight logs, noting that while the pilot had 82 total flight hours, only 5 hours were accumulated on the Tecnam P2008 JC, with the flight on the day of the incident being their first solo flight on this type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's improper assessment of the flare height and the failure to properly correct the error, which resulted in a hard landing.
- The investigation suggests the hard landing likely involved a high sink rate following a failed correction of the flare, followed by a rapid nose-down input that caused the nose gear to bounce aggressively.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's very limited experience flying the Tecnam P2008 JC.