What happened
On November 7, 2024, an Evektor Sport Star, registration SP-RTC, was engaged in a CPL(A) flight training mission. The flight, consisting of an instructor and a student pilot, was scheduled to proceed from Kaniów Airport to Kraków Balice Airport and back to Kaniów.
During the flight, the crew performed a touch-and-go maneuver at Kraków Balice. Following this maneuver, an air traffic controller notified the crew via radio that the nose gear steering arm had not been removed. The crew subsequently performed a precautionary landing at Kraków Bal andice. Upon inspection after landing, the aircraft was found to have sustained damage to the propeller and the horizontal stabilizer.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the failure to remove the nose gear steering arm during the preflight phase. The PKBWL examined the preflight procedures and the oversight provided during the training flight. The investigation established that the steering arm remained attached due to an improper preflight inspection.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an improperly performed preflight inspection, which resulted in the failure to remove the nose gear steering arm.
- The investigation concluded that the failure of the student pilot to identify the component during the preflight check constituted a serious oversight by the instructor.
Safety action
To prevent recurrence, the following preventive measures were implemented:
- The engine start checklist has been updated.
- A specific warning has been introduced on the Operational Flight Plan form.
- The incident will be reviewed with center personnel during the annual Safety Conference.