What happened
On February 24, 2024, a Tecnam P2008 JC, registration SP-TOK, was engaged in PPL(A) flight training at Mirosławice Airport (EPMR). Following a series of successful supervised flights, the student pilot began performing solo maneuvers under the supervision of an instructor. During the fourth solo flight, while on final approach, the student failed to transition the flight path in a timely manner during the flare.
This resulted in a three-point touchdown that caused the aircraft to bounce on the runway. In an attempt to correct the bounce, the student applied excessive nose-down elevator input. The instructor was unable to provide corrective radio instructions in time to prevent the error. Consequently, the aircraft experienced a hard impact on the nose wheel, which caused the nose gear fork to break.
No injuries were sustained by the student pilot during the incident.
The investigation
The PKBWL reviewed the documentation provided by the investigating entity and concluded that the findings were sufficient to close the investigation. The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers during the solo training session and the mechanical failure of the landing gear following the improper touchdown.
Findings
The investigation identified the following pilot errors as the primary causes of the incident:
- A failure to properly adjust the flight path during the flare, leading to a three-point touchdown and an aircraft bounce.
- Improper correction of the bounce through excessive elevator input.
Safety action
Following the incident, the training organization's management reviewed the error with the student pilot and conducted additional training flights. Furthermore, a briefing was held with the organization's instructional staff to discuss the instructor's role in supervising solo student flights. The event is also scheduled to be discussed at the annual Aviation Safety Conference.