What happened
On the afternoon of 27 July 2015, a Cessna 172-P, registered as 9M-NCU, was conducting a solo flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at Subang Airport. The aircraft, operated by Air Adventure Flying Club, was being piloted by a student pilot performing circuit and landing practice.
The flight sequence involved an initial touch-and-go maneuver, followed by an attempt at a full-stop landing on Runway 15. During the execution of this full-stop landing, the aircraft sustained damage to its nose landing gear. Despite the mechanical impact, the student pilot was able to taxi the aircraft to the light parking area without any further complications or secondary incidents.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the landing on Runway 1s. It was confirmed that there were zero fatalities and no injuries were sustained by the student pilot. Additionally, the investigation found that no airport infrastructure or facilities were damaged during the event.
Findings
While the specific cause of the landing incident remained undetermined, the investigation highlighted several operational factors that could influence such outcomes. The investigation noted the importance of managing aircraft weight and environmental conditions during student solo operations.
Safety action
To mitigate the risk of similar occurrences, the following recommendations were issued to the Air Adventure Flying Club:
- Ensure all aircraft used for student solo flights are fully fueled to compensate for the absence of an instructor's weight.
- Reinforce training regarding the impact of wind conditions during the landing phase.
- Emphasize the necessity of performing a go-around if the aircraft enters an unstable or undesired state during the approach or landing sequence.