What happened
On April 7, 2024, at approximately 12:38 local time, a student pilot was conducting solo flight training at Sabadell Airport (LELL) in Barcelona, Spain. The flight involved practicing takeoff and landing circuits on runway 13 using a TECNAM P-2002-JF SIERRA, registration EC-MLI.
After completing four successful circuits, the pilot accelerated for a fifth takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot realized that the flaps had not been configured to the required takeoff position. Fearing there was insufficient runway remaining to reconfigure the flaps and safely continue the takeoff, the pilot immediately applied the brakes to abort the maneuver.
During the braking process, the aircraft exited the end of the runway and veered to the left. The aircraft traveled into a grassy area near taxiway E5, where the nose gear collapsed due to the soft ground conditions. The propeller subsequently struck the terrain. The pilot was uninjured and was able to exit the aircraft on their own.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's testimony, GPS fleet tracking data, and airport surveillance footage. The tracking data confirmed the aircraft's speed and trajectory, showing the aircraft exited the runway at approximately 12 knots.
Analysis of the surveillance video allowed investigators to calculate the aircraft's speed during the final landing and the subsequent braking phase. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that a 50-hour inspection had been completed just two days prior to the event. The investigation found that the pilot had not fully retarded the throttle during the abort attempt, meaning the engine was still providing some forward thrust. Additionally, the investigation suggested that the left-side deviation may have been caused by inadvertent differential braking, as the pilot likely applied more pressure to the left brake pedal during the sudden deceleration.
Findings
- The accident was caused by the incorrect execution of the takeoff abort maneuver after the pilot identified an improper flap configuration.
- The pilot failed to fully retard the throttle to idle during the aborted takeoff, maintaining some engine thrust.
- The soft ground conditions at the end of the runway contributed to the collapse of the nose gear.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the nose gear and propeller tips.