What happened
On July 20, 2023, a Textron Aviation G5-8, registration JA58GC, was performing touch-and-go training at Yao Airport in Osaka, Japan. The flight was being conducted by a trainee under the supervision of an instructor. During the fifth attempt of a continuous training sequence on Runway 27, the aircraft experienced a series of bounces upon touchdown.
During the initial touchdown, the aircraft hit the runway with an excessive rate of descent and a speed approximately 7 knots above the recommended landing weight performance. Following this first contact, the aircraft bounced back into the air. In an attempt to continue the training sequence, the instructor adjusted the flaps and set the elevator trim to the takeoff position. However, this configuration change, combined with the aircraft's lateral movement, led to a second touchdown specifically on the nose landing gear while the aircraft was tilted to the left. This hard impact caused the tips of the left propeller blades to strike the runway surface, leaving scratch marks on the pavement. The instructor eventually took control and executed a go-around to stabilize the aircraft.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight records from the aircraft's Garmin G1000 avionics system, interviewed the crew, and inspected the aircraft and the runway. Investigators identified damage to each of the three blades on the left propeller and confirmed the presence of four scratch marks on the runway near the second touchdown point. The investigation also reviewed the operator's training manuals and the pilot's recent flight experience, noting that the trainee had not flown an actual aircraft for approximately 19 months.