What happened
On March 27, 2022, a Tecnam P2008 JC, registration CS-ECB, was engaged in a solo navigation training flight. The flight originated from Cascais (LPSR) with the intention of performing training circuits at Évora Airport (LPEV) before returning to the origin.
Upon arrival at Évora, the student pilot attempted to land on runway 01 three times. According to eyewitness accounts, these initial approaches were characterized by excessive speed and altitude. During the fourth and final landing attempt, the pilot forced a landing that resulted in a bounced landing dynamic. After the main gear made contact with the runway near the midpoint, the aircraft underwent a series of three bounces involving the nose gear. The final bounce caused the nose gear to shear off, leaving the aircraft immobilized at the end of the runway, resting on its left wing tip.
The investigation
The GPIAAF evaluated the incident, noting that the weather conditions at the time were favorable, with clear skies, visibility exceeding 10 km, and a temperature of 16°C. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing attempts and the physical impact on the aircraft components. The investigation concluded that the student pilot remained unharmed, though the event caused significant emotional distress.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose gear, propeller, and left-wing tip.
- The primary cause of the incident was a bounced landing following multiple high-speed and high-altitude approaches.
- The mechanical failure of the nose gear occurred as a direct result of the repeated impacts during the bouncing sequence.