What happened
On September 3, 2023, at approximately 16:35 LMT, an AT-3 R100, registration SP-SFA, was engaged in flight training maneuvers at the Sobienie Szlacheckie (EPSJ) airfield. The flight was being conducted by a student pilot under the supervision of an instructor. After completing standard pre-flight inspections, weight and balance calculations, and engine checks, the crew departed on runway 27 to perform right-hand circuits.
During the seventh circuit, the student pilot conducted an approach with 40 degrees of flaps and an approach speed between 60 and 65 knots. During the final phase of the landing, the student performed a flare that was too late and too low. Following the initial touchdown on the main landing gear, the aircraft bounced slightly. In response, the student pilot abruptly pulled the control stick backward. This action caused a second touchdown to occur on the nose gear, resulting in the breakage of the nose gear strut and contact between the propeller and the runway surface. The engine ceased operation, and the aircraft came to a halt on the runway with the lower forward fuselage resting on the ground. The crew sustained no injuries and exited the aircraft unaided.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver and the subsequent mechanical failure. The investigators examined the aircraft's configuration, the flight maneuvers performed during the training circuit, and the specific control inputs made by the student pilot during the bounce. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's oversight and the technical condition of the aircraft's landing gear and propeller.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the abrupt backward movement of the control stick following the aircraft's bounce from the runway.
- The student pilot performed a flare that was both too late and too low during the final approach.
- The instructor failed to intervene or react to the student's pilot errors during the landing phase.
- The impact of the second touchdown caused significant damage to the propeller, muffler, lower engine cowling, and the nose gear strut.