What happened
On August 14, 2006, a Fantasy Allegro 2000 ultralight, registration CS-UMA, was conducting a solo instructional flight at Chaves Aerodrome. The student pilot, who had recently completed 16 hours of instruction and had performed two previous solo flights, had completed a successful initial landing and was performing a second circuit.
During the approach for the second landing, the student performed a high flare, maintaining an altitude of approximately four to five meters above the runway. Monitoring the flight via portable radio, the instructor observed the high approach and instructed the student to lower the aircraft's nose to facilitate the landing. However, before the student could react, the aircraft entered a stall, causing the left wing to drop. The aircraft struck the ground with the left wing and the landing gear, subsequently veering left off the runway and sliding across the unpaved ground until it struck concrete perimeter posts.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the flight sequence and the actions of both the student and the instructor. The investigation established that the student pilot, while possessing basic piloting knowledge, struggled with landing techniques and the decision-making process regarding go-arounds during low-speed situations. The investigation also examined the instructor's role, specifically the radio instructions provided during the critical phase of the landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the deficient piloting technique of the student pilot during the landing maneuver.
- A contributing factor was the inadequate instruction provided by the instructor, who attempted to correct the student's poor technique by instructing him to lower the nose rather than ordering an immediate go-around.
- The aircraft sustained significant structural damage, including a broken left main gear, fractured nose gear, damaged left aileron, and a destroyed propeller, rendering the aircraft unrecoverable.
- Meteorological conditions were calm and visibility was excellent (CAVOK), and the runway condition was not a contributing factor.