What happened
On July 14, 2019, at approximately 17:20 local time, a TECNAM P2002 JF, registration EC-NHS, was performing a training flight at Sabadell Airport (LELL), Spain. The flight was part of an instructor rating course for the student pilot, with an instructor on board.
During the flight, the crew attempted to practice a simulated engine failure approach and landing on runway 13. After an initial successful landing and takeoff, the instructor placed the engine at idle to simulate the failure. The student pilot retracted the flaps and adjusted the airspeed to 69 knots. However, the student then selected full flaps and further reduced the airspeed. As the aircraft approached the runway threshold, the instructor applied power to prevent a loss of altitude, but the aircraft entered a stall just meters above the ground.
The aircraft impacted the runway with its left main gear. The nose gear subsequently collapsed upon impact, causing the aircraft to slide approximately twenty meters along the runway. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the two occupants, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to the landing gear, propeller, engine, and flaps.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's configuration, and the operational procedures of the flight school. Investigators reviewed the meteorological conditions, which included winds from the south-southeast at approximately 11 knots with variable directions.
Key elements examined included the flight school's manual, which lacked a specific procedure for instructing simulated engine failure landings. The investigation also noted that while the school's manual recommends avoiding full flap configurations during crosswind or gusty conditions to maintain maneuverability, the crew utilized full flaps during the maneuver. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, noting a 50-hour inspection had been performed on the day of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the incorrect execution of the landing maneuver due to a failure to adhere to established procedures.
- The crew did not follow proper approach procedures for an engine failure scenario.
- The flight school lacked a specific instructional procedure for practicing simulated engine failure landings.
- The use of full flaps during the approach, combined with the reduction in airspeed, contributed to the aircraft entering a stall at a critical altitude.