What happened
On 14 August 2022, an ICP Srl Savannah S, registration EI-GUZ, was involved in an accident at Clonbullogue Airfield, Co. Offaly, during a Private Pilot Licence skill test. The aircraft, carrying a student pilot and a flight examiner, was performing a simulated glide approach for a full-stop landing on Runway 27.
During the approach, the student pilot adjusted the flight path to reduce altitude, which led to the aircraft touching down and subsequently bouncing multiple times. As the oscillations increased in magnitude, the aircraft entered a state of porpoising. On the third bounce, the nose landing gear struck the runway with significant force and collapsed. The flight examiner attempted to initiate a go-around by applying full throttle, but after the aircraft briefly became airborne, the examiner noted an unexpected power response and heavy vibration. The examiner then set the throttle to idle and performed a second landing, bringing the aircraft to a stop 400 meters from the initial touchdown point in a nose-down position. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the meteorological conditions. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had undergone a maintenance check only four days prior to the accident and was considered serviceable by the crew. Weather conditions were reported as good with light winds. Review of video footage confirmed that the nose landing gear collapsed following three successive bounces.
Findings
- The student pilot's decision to extend the base leg to reduce altitude created an unstable approach.
- The aircraft experienced a series of increasingly large bounces, resulting in a porpoising motion.
- The nose landing gear collapsed due to the force of the third impact, causing damage to the propeller blades and the lower fuselage.
- The vibration experienced during the attempted go-around was likely caused by the propeller damage sustained during the initial gear collapse.