What happened
On July 5, 2015, an Aero Boero AB-115, registration PP-GMI, was conducting a flight instructor training mission at Blumenau Aerodrome (SSBL) in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The flight involved an instructor and a student pilot performing simulated emergency procedures.
During the fourth approach, the instructor simulated an engine failure by reducing power while on the downwind leg. The student pilot executed a reversal turn to land on runway 36. During this approach, the student maintained excessive airspeed and high descent rates, resulting in an unstabilized approach. Upon touchdown, the aircraft drifted to the right, exiting the runway and colliding with a drainage ditch. The impact caused substantial damage to the landing gear, the propeller, and the left wing tip.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight maneuvers and the decision-making process of the crew. Investigators found that the student pilot used a steep bank angle to attempt alignment with the runway and maintained speeds significantly above the recommended limits for a landing configuration.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that after the aircraft touched down and began to lose the centerline, the instructor ordered a reduction in power as part of the established emergency briefing. However, the student pilot instead applied more power in an attempt to execute a go-around. Because the aircraft was already traveling at a speed below the necessary threshold for lift, the application of power failed to stabilize the flight, leading to a ground loop and the subsequent excursion.
Findings
- Improper pilot judgment regarding the execution of emergency traffic patterns during a simulated engine failure.
- Inefficient control inputs resulting in an unstabilized approach characterized by excessive descent rates and high approach speeds.
- Failure to follow instructor commands during the landing phase, specifically the student's decision to apply power instead of reducing it.
- Instructional oversight, as the instructor allowed the student to continue maneuvers that had drifted outside of safe operational standards.