What happened
On July 8, 2018, a Piper PA-18 operated by Aeroclube de Bauru was conducting a flight training mission involving touch-and-go maneuvers at the Bauru-Arealva Aerodrome (SBAE) in São Paulo, Brazil. The flight, which included an instructor and a student pilot, was performing a series of landings. Following the fourth landing, the aircraft lost control and veered off the right side of the runway.
As the aircraft exited the paved surface, it struck a termite mound located in the grass adjacent to the runway. The impact caused the left main landing gear to break. Despite the substantial damage to the aircraft, both occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation confirmed that the aircraft, registration PT-APU, was airworthy, with all maintenance logs up to date and within weight and balance limits. The instructor held valid commercial and flight instructor ratings, while the student was undergoing training with a valid glider rating. Meteorological conditions were favorable, though a left crosswind of 06 knots was present.
Investigators examined the flight controls and the airfield infrastructure. The investigation ruled out mechanical failure as a contributing factor. The analysis focused on the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the landing phase and the instructor's intervention. It was noted that the presence of the termite mound contributed to the severity of the landing gear failure.
Findings
- Improper control inputs: The student pilot failed to adequately apply the necessary control inputs to compensate for the left crosswind during the landing.
- Pilot judgment: There was a delay in the instructor's intervention, which allowed the aircraft's deviation to reach a point of irreversibility.
- Lack of experience: The student pilot's limited experience in managing crosswind landings in a conventional gear aircraft contributed to the excursion.
- Aerodrome infrastructure: The presence of natural obstacles, specifically the termite mound near the runway edge, exacerbated the damage to the aircraft.