What happened
On March 9, 2021, a Cessna 152, registration PR-EJR, was performing a solo navigation flight for pilot training purposes. The flight originated from Jundiaí (SBJD) and was destined for Americana (SDAI) in São Paulo. The pilot, a Private Pilot (PPR) working toward a Commercial Pilot license, was conducting the flight to gain experience as Pilot in Command (PIC).
During the landing phase at Americana, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of lift, leading to an initial touchdown. The pilot applied power and attempted to flare to avoid a hard impact, but the aircraft subsequently lost lift again, resulting in a second touchdown. This sequence triggered a porpoising motion. During the final impact, the aircraft struck the runway with significant energy in a nose-down attitude, causing the nose gear to fail. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 100 meters from the initial touchdown point. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the pilot's training history and the operator's management processes. It was noted that the pilot had been away from flying for over four years prior to resuming training in early 2021. While the pilot was qualified and the aircraft was airworthy, the investigation focused on the pilot's recent proficiency and the instructor's oversight.
Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's recent flight logs, which revealed that the pilot had previously performed landings with excessive energy. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the operator's internal procedures for evaluating students transferred between its own flight school bases, noting that unlike external transfers, these students were not required to undergo a formal evaluation flight by the Chief Instructor.
Findings
- The pilot's inadequate management of the porpoising phenomenon and improper control inputs contributed to the accident.
- The pilot's limited recent flying experience, having had no flight activity for over four years, affected his ability to handle the unstable landing.
- Inadequate instructional supervision and management oversight regarding the release of the student for solo flight under those specific circumstances.
- The occurrence of a tailwind gust may have exacerbated the loss of lift during the landing sequence.