What happened
On September 19, 2014, a Piper PA-28 training aircraft, registration HK2978G, was conducting a flight training session consisting of landings and takeoffs at the Flaminio Suárez Camacho Aerodrome (SKGY) in Guaymaral, Colombia. The flight was being operated by Escuela Aeroclub de Colombia for a student pilot completing her commercial pilot training.
During the landing phase on runway 11, the aircraft experienced two consecutive bounces. These impacts caused the nose gear to fracture, which subsequently led to the propeller striking the asphalt surface, resulting in a sudden engine stoppage. Following the structural failure of the gear, the aircraft veered off the runway to the right, coming to a stop in the safety area near taxiway Delta. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured and was assisted by the aerodrome's fire services.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the student pilot's training history, and the aerodrome's operational environment. Investigators analyzed physical evidence on the runway, including marks left by the propeller and the engine's lower cowling. The investigation also reviewed the flight school's training manual and the pilot's recent flight experience.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an unstabilized approach, which led to the abnormal contact with the runway.
- The student pilot lacked the necessary technical skills to recover the aircraft following the bounced landing.
- The aircraft's nose gear failed due to the impact of the bounces.
- The flight school's training program (Manual General de Operaciones) did not include specific instructions or techniques for recovering from bounced landings.
- The student pilot had relatively limited solo flight experience, having completed only four solo flights at the time of the event.
- Meteorological conditions were within visual flight rules (VMC) limits, and no significant wind changes were identified as contributing factors.