What happened
On June 15, 2023, a Cessna TU206G Turbine was conducting a flight test for a Single Engine Turbine (SET) rating at Aversi private airfield. The flight, overseen by a flight instructor, initially involved a simulated engine failure approach. During the final stages of the approach, the instructor decided to transition the scenario to an aborted landing to test the student's response to an obstacle on the runway.
At an altitude of approximately 30 feet, the instructor informed the student that a skydiver was on the runway and instructed the student to go around. The student pilot misinterpreted the warning, believing a skydiver was in the air ahead of the aircraft. In an attempt to maneuver under the perceived obstacle, the student pulled the throttle to idle and pitched the nose down.
This reduction in power caused the propeller to increase its braking effect, leading to a rapid increase in sink rate. Due to the extremely low altitude, the instructor could not intervene in time. The aircraft struck the grass runway heavily at approximately 15 feet, causing the nose gear to collapse and the propeller blades to break upon impact.
The investigation
The investigation examined the communication between the instructor and the student, the performance characteristics of the turbine engine, and the sequence of events leading to the impact. Investigators analyzed the student's interpretation of the instructor's verbal command and the instructor's decision-making process. The investigation also reviewed the technical aspects of the PT6A-21 engine, specifically its acceleration characteristics from idle power, and the instructor's lack of preventative measures, such as maintaining physical control of the throttle during the high-risk phase of the maneuver.