What happened
On May 11, 2013, a CAP-4 aircraft, registration PP-RTX, was conducting instructor training at the Caruaru Aerodrome in Pernambuco, Brazil. The flight, operated by Brasflight Escola de Aviação, involved an instructor and a pilot who was undergoing training to obtain flight instructor certification. After completing various maneuvers in the training area, the crew returned to the airfield to perform touch-and-go exercises.
During the first touch-and-go attempt, the pilot struggled to maintain the aircraft's alignment with the runway centerline. In an attempt to correct the deviation and execute a go-around, the instructor took control and applied engine power. However, the aircraft lost control, veered left with a heading deviation of approximately 60 degrees, and exited the runway. The aircraft subsequently experienced a nose-over approximately 20 meters from the left side of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot in the right seat had not flown an aircraft with conventional landing gear for approximately one year and lacked specific experience with this model. While the pilot performed well during the initial flight maneuvers, the difficulty arose during the ground phase of the landing. The investigation confirmed that both crew members held valid medical and technical certificates, and the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits.
Findings
- The pilot experienced difficulty maintaining the aircraft on the runway centerline during the landing roll.
- The application of power during the go-around attempt led to a loss of directional control.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the engine, both propeller blades, the vertical stabilizer, the left wing, and the left wing strut.
- Both crew members sustained minor injuries.