What happened
On July 31, 2016, a Cessna 152, registration PR-MJW, was conducting a flight training mission from Tietê to Piracicaba, Brazil. The crew consisted of a flight instructor and a student pilot, who had approximately 30 total flight hours.
During the approach to runway 35, the student pilot performed the flare at an altitude higher than appropriate. In an attempt to correct the aircraft's attitude, the instructor intervened by applying nose-down elevator, which led to the first hard impact of the landing gear with the runway. Following this, the aircraft floated, and the stall warning horn was activated. During this critical phase, both pilots simultaneously manipulated the flight controls in an attempt to stabilize the aircraft. This resulted in a second hard impact, followed by a third impact of the main landing gear. The force of the final impact caused the nose gear to collapse, leading the propeller tips to strike the ground and causing the engine to stop abruptly. The aircraft came to a halt approximately 200 meters from the initial touchdown point.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the crew's performance. Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, which were favorable for VFR flight, and the mechanical state of the aircraft, finding it airworthy and within weight and balance limits. The investigation analyzed the flight controls usage, the instructor's intervention timing, and the coordination between the two pilots during the landing sequence.
Findings
- The lack of experience of the student pilot contributed to the difficulty in executing a proper flare.
- The instructor's delayed intervention and the decision to continue the landing instead of executing a go-around were significant contributing factors.
- Inadequate use of flight controls during the landing phase led to the series of hard impacts.
- Poor cockpit coordination, characterized by both pilots acting on the controls simultaneously, hindered effective aircraft control.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose gear, propeller, and engine, though both occupants remained uninjured.