What happened
On April 17, 2023, a Socata Rallye 180, registration SP-GRN, was performing a series of flights as part of a PPL(A) training program at Toruń (EPTO) airport. During the landing phase on the concrete runway, the pilot applied the wheel brakes while the aircraft was still in the process of touching down. This application of braking force created a pitching moment that caused the nose gear strut to compress fully. Consequently, the nose wheel entered a self-excited shimmy oscillation. The resulting vibrations caused damage to the landing gear assembly and led to the propeller repeatedly striking the runway surface. The aircraft came to a halt, and there were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of the landing and the mechanical response of the aircraft's nose gear. The investigation focused on the pilot's technique during the touchdown and the instructor's oversight during the training maneuver. The commission analyzed the impact of the braking force on the nose gear stability and the subsequent mechanical failure of the landing gear and propeller.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a pilot error involving improper braking technique during landing.
- A contributing factor was the instructor's delayed and ineffective response to the student's actions, which was attributed to a lack of sufficient time to intervene.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator implemented several preventive measures:
- Instructors and pilots at the Pomeranian Aero Club were briefed on the details of the occurrence.
- Instructors were instructed to ensure that students training on aircraft with nose wheels are properly prepared and taught the correct method of managing brakes during landing.