What happened
On August 31, 2009, a Reims Cessna F150L, registration CS-APA, departed from Tires Municipal Aerodrome (Cascais) for a visual navigation training flight. The flight was intended to follow a route including Cabo Raso, Ericeira, and Peniche. While passing Cabo da Roca, the student pilot observed unfavorable atmospheric conditions to the north and decided to abort the mission and return to the departure aerodrome.
Upon returning to Tires, the aircraft landed on runway 17 at 14:20 UTC. The landing was a bouncing landing; the pilot attempted to correct the situation by applying power, but the aircraft bounced a second time. During a third touchdown, the nose gear struck the ground with enough force to separate from the airframe. The aircraft came to a halt supported by the main landing gear and the nose section, causing light scuffing on the runway surface. The student pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight history, the pilot's experience, and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft was properly maintained and all documentation was valid. The weather at the time of landing, with a 10-knot wind from 190 degrees, was within operational limits and was not considered a contributing factor. The investigation focused on the pilot's technique during the landing phase, noting that the pilot had approximately 60 flight hours of experience.