What happened
On March 29, 2014, a Cessna 182Q, registration PT-OIW, was conducting local flight training maneuvers at the Arthur Siqueira State Airport (SBBP) in Bragança Paulista, Brazil. The flight involved two pilots and one passenger performing touch-and-go training.
During the fourth circuit of the training session, the aircraft approached the runway with a speed slightly higher than prescribed. Upon touchdown, the nose gear struck the runway with excessive force, creating an unusual noise. The impact caused the nose gear fork to fracture, resulting in the nose wheel detaching from the assembly. Following the failure, the second pilot took control of the aircraft, maintaining a nose-up attitude and shutting down the engine to prevent further damage. The aircraft slid along the runway, supported only by the broken nose gear fork, until it came to a complete stop with the nose resting on the ground. All three occupants escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by SERIPA IV examined the flight sequence, the mechanical failure, and the crew's experience. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and that the pilots held valid medical and technical certifications. The investigation focused on the landing technique and the pilot's proficiency in the specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The aircraft approached the runway at a speed slightly above the recommended parameters.
- The landing involved a heavy and forceful touchdown on the nose gear.
- The structural failure of the nose gear fork was a direct result of this high-impact touchdown.
- The pilot in command had limited flight experience, with only 77 hours and 30 minutes of total flight time, and had recently completed transition training from a high-wing aircraft (Cessna 172) to this low-wing model.
- Contributing factors included improper control inputs, errors in pilot judgment, and the pilot's lack of experience.