What happened
On December 27, 1992, a Mooney M20J, registration CS-AVK, was performing a VFR flight from Cascais to the Ferreira do Zêzere Aerodrome. The flight carried three occupants, all of whom escaped the incident without injury.
During the landing roll at Ferreira do Zêzere, a motor vehicle entered the runway. In an attempt to avoid a collision with the vehicle, the pilot deliberately steered the aircraft away from the runway centerline. This maneuver caused the aircraft to exit the paved surface and strike a rock located off the runway, resulting in structural damage to the landing gear and engine components.
The investigation
The GPIAAF examined the aircraft's condition and the circumstances of the landing. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid private pilot license and was medically fit for the operation. The aircraft was found to be properly certified and maintained in accordance with DGAC regulations.
Technical inspections revealed that the impact with the ground and the rock caused several types of damage. The nose gear assembly suffered a fracture in the lower connection of the leg to the wheel axle, and the nose gear well was fractured and deformed. Additionally, the propeller blades sustained bends, and the engine's air intake was fractured due to the impact.