What happened
On December 26, 2022, a Cirrus SR20, registration JA01TC, was performing touch-and-go training at Amakusa Airfield in Kumamoto Prefecture. The flight was being conducted by a trainee pilot in the right seat, with an instructor occupying the left seat. As the aircraft approached Runway 31, the descent path was low and the airspeed had dropped below the required approach speed.
In response to these unstable parameters, the instructor commanded a go-around. However, during the attempt to climb, the aircraft's nose pitched downward. This resulted in the aircraft touching down on the nose landing gear first. The impact caused the nose gear and tire to fracture, with parts of the gear being thrown into the adjacent grass area. As the aircraft continued along the runway, the propeller blades struck the ground, and the broken landing gear components struck the fuselage and the left horizontal stabilizer, causing extensive damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The JTSB investigation focused on the flight controls and the cockpit ergonomics of the Cirrus SR2/0. Investigators examined the side-control yoke configuration and the physical differences in control placement between the left and right pilot seats. The investigation also reviewed the training protocols of the operator, Japan General Aviation Service Co., Ltd., specifically regarding how trainees are prepared for flight operations in the right-hand seat.
Findings
- The primary cause of the nose-down pitch during the go-around was that the trainee pilot mistakenly pushed the control yoke forward instead of advancing the power lever.
- This error likely stemmed from the trainee's lack of familiarity with the right-seat configuration; having previously flown other aircraft, the trainee likely applied the muscle memory of using the right hand for the yoke to the power lever, and the left hand to the yoke.
- The instructor's failure to take immediate control of the aircraft when the nose began to drop contributed to the improper touchdown.
- The training decision was made only one day prior to the flight, leaving insufficient time for the trainee to prepare for the ergonomic differences of the right-hand seat.
- The operator lacked specific standardized procedures or training syllabi for pilots transitioning to the right-hand seat for instructor certification training.