What happened
On August 4, 2009, a Socata TB200, registration CS-DEL, was conducting a solo instructional flight as part of an ATPL training program. The aircraft, operated by Academia Aeronáutica de Évora, was on a VFR flight approaching Portimão Aerodrome.
During the landing on runway 11, the pilot maintained appropriate power and airspeed; however, the aircraft initially made contact with the runway on the nosewheel. This caused the aircraft to bounce before settling into a three-point landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Upon parking, the pilot discovered slight deformations on the tips of the dual propeller blades caused by contact with the runway surface. No other damage to the aircraft or third parties was recorded, and the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the flight parameters and the pilot's experience level. The investigator noted that the pilot had 54 hours of total flight time, all of which were accumulated in this specific aircraft type. The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the plane was fully compliant with its approved maintenance program and had valid documentation. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident included a 14-knot left crosswind, visibility greater than 10 km, and clear skies, which were determined not to be contributing factors to the event.
Findings
- The pilot initiated the flare too late, leading to the initial nosewheel touchdown.
- The pilot's relatively low flight experience (54 hours) contributed to difficulty managing the aircraft during the landing phase, particularly when handling the crosswind component.
- The aircraft was in a high state of airworthiness and had no mechanical irregularities during the flight.
- The weather conditions, while involving a crosswind, were within the pilot's operational capability.