What happened
On October 25, 2021, an Aero Boero AB-115, registration PP-GOJ, was performing a navigation training flight from Fernandópolis to the Fazenda Três Irmãos aerodrome in Santa Fé dos Sul, Brazil. The flight was being conducted by an instructor and a student pilot.
During the fourth touch-and-go maneuver at the private aerodrome, the aircraft rotated 90 degrees relative to the runway axis. The excursion caused the aircraft to veer off to the left side of the runway, resulting in the failure of the right main landing gear and light damage to the right wing. Both occupants of the aircraft were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the flight conditions, the crew's qualifications, and the aircraft's maintenance status. The investigation confirmed that the instructor was fully qualified with valid flight instructor ratings, while the student pilot, though qualified, had limited experience in this specific aircraft type. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid, and all maintenance records for the engine, propeller, and airframe were up to date.
Investigators also evaluated the aerodrome environment. While the weather was favorable, the wind was noted to have been intense from the left during previous approaches. The investigation noted that the windsock at the aerodrome was in poor condition, making it difficult to accurately assess wind direction. Furthermore, the investigation found that the flight school's safety management system had not documented specific risk assessments or mitigations for operating at this private aerodrome.
Findings
- The loss of control on the ground was likely caused by the student pilot's improper use of flight controls, specifically the potential use of the right rudder pedal to counteract a crosswind, which can induce a ground loop in conventional gear aircraft.
- The student pilot's lack of experience in the aircraft type contributed to the difficulty in managing the aircraft during the landing phase.
- A potential lapse in the instructor's supervision and monitoring of the student's actions may have prevented timely corrective actions.
- Deficiencies in the flight school's management planning, specifically regarding the lack of risk assessment for private aerodrome operations, were identified.
Safety action
CENIPA recommended that the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) work with the flight school to ensure compliance with their Safety Management System (SMS), particularly regarding the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of risks associated with operations at private aerodromes.