What happened
On May 5, 2016, a Diamond DA-40NG, registration B-88002, operated by Air Jet Flight Training Center, was conducting a solo training flight at Fengnian Airport in Taitung. The student pilot was performing a solo airspace training mission, having departed from runway 04 earlier that morning.
Upon returning to the airport, the pilot requested to land on runway 22 to avoid a tailwind component that exceeded solo flight limitations. During the final approach, the aircraft's flight parameters—including speed, descent rate, and attitude—were unstable. The aircraft failed to meet stabilized approach criteria at 200 feet. During the landing roll, the aircraft bounced several times. This sequence of events caused the nose gear to collapse and break away from the airframe. The propeller and lower engine cowling sustained damage due to contact with the runway. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, and the pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) investigated the incident, examining the flight path, the student pilot's training history, and the flight school's operational procedures. The investigation reviewed radar data, Garmin G1000 flight recorder information, and airport surveillance footage. The investigators also reviewed the student pilot's previous solo flight examinations and the flight school's monitoring mechanisms for solo students.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the student pilot failed to establish an appropriate pitch angle and deceleration during the flare phase, causing the aircraft to touch down with a nose-down attitude. This led to the initial bounce and subsequent "porpoising" effect that broke the nose gear.
- The student pilot failed to execute a go-around after the aircraft became unstable during the final approach.
- The student pilot's approach speed and descent rate were higher than prescribed standards, and the aircraft's attitude and speed fluctuated significantly.
- The student pilot's training history indicated a lack of confidence and a tendency to become nervous, which hindered the ability to manage multiple tasks during critical flight phases.
- The flight school's procedures for monitoring solo students were insufficient to provide real-time assistance during the takeoff and landing phases.
- The flight school's training manuals lacked integrated and complete information regarding approach procedures, making it difficult for students to perform effective cross-checks.