What happened
On April 8, 2022, a kit-built Tecnam 2002-RG, registration EC-XPU, was performing a private VFR landing at the Alhama de Murcia aerodrome (LELH) in Spain. The aircraft, operated by Aeroclub Cierva Codorníu-Murcia, had been conducting a local flight following a period of flight in the area.
During the landing approach, the pilot configured the aircraft with landing gear and flaps. As the aircraft reached approximately one meter above the runway threshold, the pilot reduced power to idle and initiated the flare. At this moment, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control and dropped onto the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to taxi along the runway before exiting the paved surface. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on whether a failure in the pitot-static system contributed to the event, as the pilot reported a perceived discrepancy between the indicated airspeed and the actual aircraft speed. The pilot believed the airspeed indicator showed 50 kt, which was well above the stall speed of approximately 30-35 kt.
Investigators examined the installation of the static pressure system, noting that the aircraft's configuration differed from the certified P2002-JR model. Specifically, the static pressure line was not connected to the external sensor but instead drew pressure from protected areas within the wing-fuselage junction and the instrument panel. Additionally, a loose static pipe was discovered during the post-accident inspection.
Functional tests using an Air Data Test set confirmed that the Garmin G5 instrument provided accurate and stable readings for altitude, vertical speed, and airspeed. The investigation determined that the deviations in the static system installation were not significant enough to cause erroneous airspeed indications during the flight conditions experienced.