What happened
On April 21, 2024, at approximately 16:13 local time, a PS-28 Cruiser, registration EC-NKQ, operated by Flyschool Air Academy, was involved in an accident during a dual instruction flight at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. The flight was intended to practice engine failure simulations in both cruise and circuit phases.
During the circuit phase for runway 09, the student pilot performed an engine failure simulation. However, the aircraft was flying significantly faster and at a higher altitude than the stabilized approach parameters required. The aircraft's EFIS recorded multiple "flap overspeed" warnings as the speed exceeded 75 kt. Despite the unstable approach, the crew decided to continue the landing, believing the remaining runway length was sufficient to correct the errors.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the engine power had not been reduced to idle, which contributed to the aircraft floating down the runway. Upon realizing the power was not at idle, the student pilot reduced the throttle. This sudden change, combined with a nose-down input, caused the aircraft to strike the runway. The impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse, and the aircraft subsequently slid along the runway, causing damage to the propeller and the lower fuselage.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the flight parameters recorded by the EFIS, the instructor's performance, and the training organization's procedures. Investigators analyzed the approach profile, noting that the descent rate was approximately 1000 ft/min, far exceeding the 500 ft/min limit specified in the school's operating manual. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's flight activity for the day, noting a previous long instruction flight with minimal rest before the accident flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the incorrect execution of the landing maneuver.
- The engine throttle was not set to idle during the simulated engine failure, which prevented the aircraft from descending properly.
- The crew elected to proceed with the landing despite the approach being unstabilized.
- The instructor provided inadequate supervision of the landing maneuver.
- The instructor's accumulated flight time on the day of the accident, without adequate rest between sessions, may have impaired attention or increased the desire to conclude the operation quickly.
Safety action
- REC 22/25: It is recommended that Flyschool Air Academy revise its onboard checklists to ensure a logical sequential order and to include specific flap settings and target speeds that align with the manufacturer's manual and the school's operational procedures.