History of the Flight
On 11 September 2011, a Piper PA-44-180 departed from its home base, EBAW, with an instructor and two student pilots on board. The flight was intended for training on VMCA and single-engine inoperative procedures. After exercises with the first student, the aircraft landed at EBST (Brustem Airfield) to swap student positions.
The second student, seated in the left seat, conducted a series of exercises including VMCA demonstration and simulated engine failures. The aircraft then entered the circuit for a touch and go. After take-off, a simulation of an engine failure after take-off was performed and managed by the student. The aircraft remained in the circuit for a second touch and go.
Following the second take-off, the instructor initiated a simulated single-engine approach and landing. The student flew the circuit but had difficulty aligning the aircraft on the runway centerline during short final. The instructor took control, landed, and during the landing roll raised the flaps. At that moment, the aircraft turned violently left. The rear-seat student noted a left tendency already present, which worsened with flap retraction. The aircraft headed toward a raised embankment. The instructor expedited take-off to avoid collision, but one wing stalled, resulting in loss of control and ground contact.
Analysis
The investigation considered several possible causes for the runway excursion: incorrect rudder trim setting, a nose wheel steering defect, asymmetrical flap retraction, inappropriate brake input, or engine power asymmetry. The analysis noted that the left simulated inoperative engine likely became inoperative due to carburettor icing, given meteorological conditions favoring severe carburettor icing. The loss of control occurred during a touch and go with an undetected inoperative engine.
Conclusions
The cause of the accident was a loss of control during a touch and go performed with an undetected inoperative engine. The left-hand simulated inoperative engine probably became inoperative due to carburettor icing.