What happened
On May 1, 2022, a DA20-C1 aircraft, registration PR-SAO, was performing instructional touch-and-go maneuvers at Fazenda Irohy Aerodrome (SDIH) in Biritiba-Mirim, Brazil. The flight was being conducted by a flight instructor and a student pilot.
During one of the landing attempts, the aircraft experienced a hard landing that transitioned into a porpoising condition. The aircraft initially veered left of the runway centerline. As the crew attempted to correct the flight path and initiate a go-around, the aircraft yawed uncontrollably to the right. The aircraft exited the runway laterally, with the right wing striking the ground first, followed by the left wing. During the excursion, the auxiliary landing gear leg failed, and the propeller blades struck the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engine, propeller, landing gear, and left wing, though both occupants emerged unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the flight parameters, the training records of the student pilot, and the infrastructure of the aerodrome. Investigators noted that the final approach was unstabilized, with the aircraft traveling at approximately 70 knots, which exceeded the manufacturer's recommended speed of 55 knots. The investigation also reviewed the training oversight at the Aeroclube de São Paulo, noting discrepancies in the student's flight evaluation sheets and inconsistencies between the flight school's checklists and the aircraft's Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
Findings
- The final approach was performed in an unstabilized manner with excessive airspeed.
- The aircraft experienced a hard landing and porpoising that led to the loss of directional control.
- Surface irregularities, including vegetation patches and undulations on the unpaved runway, contributed to the excursion.
- The flight instructor maintained a non-participatory attitude, failing to intervene effectively as errors escalated.
- There were significant failures in the supervision of the student pilot's training progress and a lack of managerial oversight regarding flight evaluation records.
- The flight school's instructional checklist prescribed an approach speed 10 knots higher than the manufacturer's recommendation.