What happened
On February 16, 2022, a CAP-4 aircraft, registration PP-RQY, was performing a local instructional flight at Aeródromo Fazenda Vale Eldorado (SDVH) in Bragança Paulista, Brazil. The flight was being conducted by a flight instructor and a pilot under supervision, who was in the process of revalidating his flight ratings.
After completing several maneuvers, the crew returned to the airfield to practice landing techniques, specifically focusing on "three-point" landings. Following a successful three-point touchdown, the aircraft began to veer to the right during the landing roll. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot applied rudder, aileron, and braking. During this maneuver, the control column moved forward, leading to a sudden and uncontrollable nose-over (pilonamento) of the aircraft. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, windshield, and propeller, as well as minor damage to the engine cowling. Both occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and that all maintenance records were up to date. The meteorological conditions were favorable for visual flight. The investigation focused on the flight crew's actions and the school's training protocols.
Investigators noted that the flight instructor's manual for the CAP-4 specifically emphasized the need to maintain the control column fully aft ("colado") after a three-point landing to prevent such incidents. The investigation also reviewed the flight school's safety management system, noting that while the school had risk mitigation measures in place, they did not specifically address the unique training needs of pilots undergoing revalidation after long periods of inactivity.
Findings
- Improper control input: The movement of the control column forward during the landing roll contributed to the nose-over.
- Inadequate cockpit coordination: The instructor's verbal intervention was insufficient to prevent the loss of control, suggesting an inefficient use of available human resources to manage critical flight conditions.
- Perception and judgment: The instructor may have inadequately judged that the pilot under supervision could correct the deviation without direct physical intervention on the controls.
- Training gaps: The school's instructional programs lacked specific guidance for the revalidation of pilots who had been away from flying for extended periods.