What happened
On October 28, 2016, a Cessna C-152, registration OB-1946, operated by Master of the Sky, was conducting a solo flight training session at Lib Mandi Aerodrome in San Bartolo, Peru. Following a successful initial check flight with an instructor, the student pilot was cleared to perform a solo circuit involving a climb to 1,000 feet and a return to the airfield.
During the first landing attempt, the student pilot inadvertently increased engine power because the throttle friction control was not properly adjusted. This resulted in a hard landing characterized by two bounces. Although the pilot successfully executed a go-around, the aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear and the propeller tips. Following this event, the pilot discovered that the rudder pedals were non-functional. Consequently, the pilot declared an emergency and performed a precautionary landing, successfully bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot or any third parties.
The investigation
The CIAA initiated a field investigation immediately following the occurrence. Investigators coordinated with the pilot, the flight instructor, air traffic control personnel, and the operator's airworthiness staff to evaluate the event and establish initial operational safety recommendations.
Technical coordination was maintained with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the aircraft manufacturer, Textron Aviation. The investigation included an assessment of the damage to the aircraft's engine and airframe to identify potential hidden damage.