What happened
On June 1, 2024, a Scheibe SF 25C, registration EC-NQI, departed from the Benabarre aerodrome (LENA) in Huesca for a local recreational flight. The aircraft was operated by the Albatros Benabarre flight club and was piloted by a single occupant.
After approximately 40 minutes of flight, the pilot initiated the return to the airfield. Upon contacting the aerodrome, the pilot was informed that runway 28 was in service with winds from 260 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot performed a direct approach to runway 28, maintaining a reference speed of approximately 100 km/h despite experiencing some turbulence.
As the aircraft reached the runway and the pilot began the flare maneuver, the aircraft experienced a sudden change in attitude. Instead of a slight nose-up attitude typical of a normal landing, the aircraft pitched nose-down. The aircraft struck the runway surface with the propeller first, causing significant damage to the propeller, landing gear, and the lower forward section of the fuselage. The aircraft slid along the runway for approximately 41 meters before coming to a stop.
The investigation
Investigators analyzed data from an onboard LX Flarm Mobile system, which recorded the flight parameters. The data confirmed that during the approach, the pilot maintained speeds and descent rates consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations. However, the final seconds of the flight showed a sudden loss of ground speed and a significant vertical descent rate.
Analysis of the impact marks on the runway revealed that the propeller blades struck the pavement with their leading edges rather than the tips, which is indicative of a nose-down attitude. The spacing of the propeller impact marks allowed investigators to estimate that the engine RPM had dropped significantly due to the impact. Furthermore, the heavy damage to the main landing gear was consistent with a high-energy vertical impact.
Findings
- The aircraft was in a nose-down attitude during the flare phase, which caused it to strike the runway surface with the propeller.
- The pilot maintained appropriate approach speeds and descent rates according to the flight manual until the moment of the sudden pitch change.
- The impact with the runway caused the propeller to break and the engine to stop abruptly.
- The pilot sustained serious injuries during the event.