Incident Overview
On 15 December 2008, a Socata TB200, registration CS-DEA, operated by Academia Aeronáutica de Évora, was conducting a solo navigation training flight from Évora Aerodrome (LPEV) to Portimão Aerodrome (LPPM) and back. The sole occupant was a 28-year-old female student pilot who was qualified for the flight.
Flight History
After arriving at Portimão, the pilot maneuvered for landing on runway 29. The wind was reported as 320° at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. During the approach, the aircraft experienced three oscillations near the ground before touching down on the fourth attempt. The touchdown was hard and somewhat uncoordinated, with lateral oscillations. The propeller struck the asphalt, resulting in slight deformation of the blade tips. The engine continued to run, and the pilot taxied to parking, where the damage was confirmed.
The pilot contacted the academy, reported the facts, and informed the Aerodrome Information Traffic Adviser (AITA), who notified the GPIAA. A technical team traveled to the site, repaired the aircraft, and it returned to Évora for a more detailed inspection.
Aerodrome Conditions
Portimão Municipal Aerodrome (LPPM) is part of the national aerodrome network. The approach to runway 29 requires overflying a mountainous area with some irregularities and a relatively constant slope. The threshold had been displaced by about 90 meters. Turbulence phenomena develop over the slope in the approach area, complicating stabilization on the approach path.
Analysis
The student was enrolled in the Airline Pilot Course and this mission was part of the syllabus. She had previously operated at this aerodrome under dual instruction, so the approach conditions and wind effects were not unknown. However, her limited flight experience did not allow her to maintain a stabilized approach and properly react to the gust effects.
The terrain gradient in the approach area tends to increase the approach angle, leading to a higher approach and some excess speed that must be dissipated over the runway. Due to the wind gust, the student had greater difficulty reducing speed, allowing the aircraft to float and varying the pitch control. She also struggled to keep the wings level due to the strong, irregular crosswind. When the gust decreased, the aircraft struck the runway with significant force. The vertical acceleration, combined with lateral wing oscillations, caused the propeller tips to momentarily contact the asphalt, resulting in the noted damage but without stopping the engine.
The pilot noticed the irregularities of the landing and, after a visual inspection upon reaching parking and stopping the engine, confirmed the damage. The report suggests that a decision to abort the landing (go-around) and prepare a new approach more carefully might have avoided the incident.
Damage
The aircraft sustained slight damage to the propeller. No other damage was reported. There were no injuries to the pilot.