What happened
On November 27, 2011, an Aero Boero AB115, registration PP-GMG, was performing its first solo flight for a student pilot at the Londrina Aerodrome (SBLO) in Paraná, Brazil. The flight was part of the student's training for a Private Pilot License (PPL).
During the landing phase, the aircraft approached the runway in an unstable manner. The aircraft touched the ground several times while still maintaining lift. Following the touchdown, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control on the ground, rotating 140 degrees on the runway axis. During this excursion, the right wingtip struck the pavement, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that while the aircraft was airworthy, properly loaded, and balanced, several operational and supervisory failures were present. At the time of the accident, wind speeds were measured at 10 knots, which exceeded the 6-knot limit for takeoff and landing established by the Londrina Aeroclube's internal safety regulations (NISAL-05/08).
Crucially, the investigation found that the student pilot had demonstrated significant difficulty with landing maneuvers, receiving deficient grades in nine of the thirteen flight missions preceding the solo flight. Despite these documented struggles, the flight school's Instruction Coordination failed to provide effective oversight. The student's training records lacked any analysis or comments from the Practical Instruction Coordinator, and the school's Instruction Council had not met to address the student's lack of progress. This lack of supervision allowed the student to proceed to a solo flight without the necessary proficiency in landing techniques.
Findings
- Inappropriate use of rudder pedals during the landing phase.
- Lack of effective management supervision regarding flight training progress.
- Insufficient student pilot experience in managing landing maneuvers.
- Failure to adhere to internal wind speed limitations for landing operations.
- Inadequate instructional oversight and lack of coordination in the training process.