What happened
On May 1, 2020, at approximately 14:40 UTC, a Piper PA-18, registration PP-GJH, was conducting a local instructional flight at the Blumenau Aerodrome (SSBL) in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The flight was part of a flight instructor training course, and the pilot was performing their first solo mission in the aircraft.
During the landing sequence, the pilot experienced a loss of control. After the initial touchdown, the aircraft veered sharply to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation with aggressive rudder inputs, which resulted in a ground loop. During this maneuver, the left landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the runway surface. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the pilot's training records and the flight instructor's performance. The investigation revealed that the pilot, while holding valid commercial and instrument ratings, was in the adaptation phase for conventional (tailwheel) landing gear. Records indicated that the pilot had struggled with landing techniques, specifically during the flare, in several previous flights.
Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the instructional oversight at the aero club. It was noted that the flight instructor, who had relatively limited experience, authorized the solo flight following a brief debriefing conducted inside the aircraft. The investigation also found that the flight logs lacked detailed qualitative assessments of the student's difficulties, and the club's instructional director had not recorded specific recommendations despite the student's documented struggles with landing stability.
Findings
- The pilot was undergoing training to become a flight instructor and lacked sufficient experience with conventional landing gear.
- The pilot's self-assessment of their readiness for solo flight was inaccurate, likely due to overconfidence following successful segments of the preceding flight.
- Inadequate training and instruction contributed to the pilot's inability to manage the aircraft during the landing phase.
- There was a lack of detailed documentation in flight logs regarding the student's specific technical deficiencies.
- Deficient managerial supervision allowed for insufficient oversight of the instructor's performance and the student's progress.
- The flight instructor's relatively low flight hours may have limited their ability to properly judge the student's competency for solo operations.