What happened
On September 8, 2022, a Neiva 56-C, registration PP-HLJ, was conducting a local flight instruction mission at Aeródromo Francisco de Assis (SBJF) in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The aircraft was operated by Aeroclube de Juiz de Fora with a flight instructor and a student pilot on board.
During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced a series of bounces, known as porpoising, after touching down. The aircraft made five separate contacts with the runway. During this sequence, the aircraft drifted toward the right side of the runway before suddenly veering to the left. The aircraft eventually exited the runway via the left side, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. One crew member sustained light injuries, while the other remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits, although the maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe were not up to date. The weather conditions were above the required minimums for the flight.
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions and the sequence of events captured by airport cameras. The instructor reported attempting a go-around by applying power, but the attempt was deemed late and contributed to the loss of directional control. The investigation also noted that the instructor had undergone a flight re-adaptation on the same morning he was assigned to conduct instruction. While the instructor claimed the rudder pedals felt "stiff," the investigation found no evidence of mechanical failure in the flight controls.
Findings
- The instructor had limited experience with this specific aircraft model, having only 30 hours in the type.
- The instructor had performed a flight re-adaptation on the morning of the accident and was assigned to instruct a student with only four total flight hours later that afternoon.
- The aircraft entered a porpoising state during landing, which was exacerbated by a late go-around attempt.
- The combination of torque effect, an 8-knot crosswind from the right, and improper control inputs during the bounces led to the loss of directional control.
- There were deficiencies in the training and proficiency of the instructor regarding this specific model.
- There were failures in managerial supervision and flight planning by the flight school regarding pilot scheduling.
Safety action
It is recommended that the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) work with the flight school to ensure that their Safety Management System (SMS) includes supplementary risk management measures regarding the scheduling of pilots, specifically considering their flight experience in the aircraft models used for instruction.