What happened
On July 10, 2002, a Cessna 180H Skywagon 180, registration CS-DCV, was performing a flight from Aeródromo de Tires to Aeródromo de Portimão. The aircraft was being operated for aerial advertising and sightseeing purposes. After a successful initial touch-and-go landing, the pilot attempted a second landing on runway 29.
The landing was executed as a three-point touchdown approximately 100 meters past the touchdown zone at a speed of roughly 40 mph. During the landing roll, the aircraft began to oscillate between the left and right main wheels. This instability caused the aircraft to lose control and veer to the right, exiting the paved surface of the runway.
As the aircraft moved onto the sandy terrain adjacent to the runway, the pilot applied full power and right rudder in an attempt to perform a sharp maneuver to avoid an approaching drainage ditch. This violent corrective action caused the left main landing gear to collapse and separate from the airframe. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground, causing the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and propeller to impact the terrain. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's maintenance status, and the sequence of events during the landing roll. Investigators analyzed tire marks on the asphalt and the sandy terrain, which showed varying pressure from the left tire and a sudden change in trajectory. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent training, noting that while he had completed an adaptation program for tailwheel aircraft, his total experience with conventional gear aircraft was very limited.