What happened
On November 30, 2016, a Cessna 152, registration EC-DMC, was conducting a local flight for takeoff and landing practice at Sabadell Airport (LELL) in Barcelona. The aircraft was operated by Aeroclub Barcelona Sabadell and was being flown solo by a student pilot with 52 total flight hours.
During the first landing on runway 13, the aircraft performed an approach that appeared correct in terms of alignment and speed. However, as the aircraft passed the runway numbers, it began to float and subsequently bounced against the runway surface approximately three to four times. During these bounces, the nose gear eventually failed, causing the aircraft to impact the runway. The student pilot was able to evacuate the aircraft safely and remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance records, and testimonies from both the student pilot and the supervising instructor. The instructor noted that the approach did not appear to have excessive speed and was properly configured with two flaps. The student pilot reported that while monitoring the distance to the runway to begin the flare, the aircraft began to bounce. The student admitted to being unsure of the correct recovery technique, as they had never encountered such a situation during training.
Technical analysis of the wreckage revealed significant damage to the propeller tips, the engine (including the crankshaft), the engine cowling, the nose gear, the firewall, and the engine mount. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance status, finding that the engine and airframe were within their service intervals and that all required documentation for both the pilot and the aircraft was in order.
Findings
- The approach was performed according to the manufacturer's established procedures.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable for visual flight rules (VFR).
- The student pilot failed to execute the flare correctly, which led to the aircraft impacting the runway and initiating the series of bounces.
- The pilot's lack of experience with bouncing maneuvers contributed to the inability to stabilize the aircraft by lifting the nose to maintain contact only with the main landing gear.