What happened
On April 9, 2011, a Piper PA-18-150, registration PT-WCF, was conducting a flight training mission at the Itápolis Aerodrome (SDIO) in São Paulo, Brazil. The flight was part of a transition training program designed to help a pilot adapt to conventional landing gear aircraft.
During the thirteenth landing of the mission, the pilot landed to the left of the runway centerline. In an attempt to steer the aircraft back toward the center of the runway, the pilot applied excessive braking. This maneuver resulted in a loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to veer off the paved surface and impact the ground approximately 400 meters from the runway threshold. The instructor on board was uninjured, while the pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft suffered serious damage to the engine and propeller, along with light damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational circumstances of the training mission and the qualifications of the crew. The investigation established that the flight was part of a structured training session involving various landing techniques, including three-point landings and runway landings.
Investigators examined the flight school's management of transition training and the instructor's familiarity with the specific aircraft model. The investigation also reviewed the condition of the aerodrome, noting that the runway pavement showed signs of deterioration and the markings were in poor condition. No mechanical failures in the braking system or other aircraft components were identified as contributing factors.
Findings
- The pilot applied excessive braking while attempting to correct the aircraft's position on the runway, leading to the loss of control.
- The instructor was performing instruction in a specific aircraft model for the first time, which hindered the ability to intervene effectively during the error.
- The flight school lacked standardized prerequisites and specific planning for pilot transition missions, such as formal testing or specific instructor requirements.
- The use of maximum flap deflection during the landing phase increased the difficulty of the maneuver, requiring more refined control than the pilot demonstrated.
- The pilot had limited flight experience and had not been flying regularly in conventional gear aircraft.
- The aerodrome's runway markings were in poor condition, and the pavement exhibited signs of disintegration.