What happened
On March 30, 2012, an Aero Boero AB-115, registration PP-FLH, was performing a flight training circuit at the Aeródromo Nacional de Aviação (SWNV) in Goiânia, Brazil. The aircraft, operated by Aeroclube de Goiás, was carrying two crew members on a flight following recent corrective maintenance to its braking system.
During the landing roll on runway 13, the aircraft was impacted by a wind gust. This gust caused the aircraft to drift to the right, moving approximately two meters off the paved surface. In an attempt to regain the centerline, the pilot applied full rudder input, but the aircraft continued to deviate from the runway axis. To correct the course, the pilot applied differential braking, which caused the aircraft to pivot 180 degrees relative to the original landing direction. This sudden maneuver generated enough force to cause the right wingtip to strike the ground, resulting in damage to the wing structure.
The investigation
The investigation established that the weather conditions were favorable for visual flight, with visibility exceeding 10km and no significant cloud cover. The crew members held valid medical and technical certifications, and the pilot in command was fully qualified with 490 total flight hours. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate and maintenance logs were up to date, including a recent 50-hour inspection performed shortly before the occurrence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the influence of a wind gust during the landing roll.
- The aircraft drifted approximately two meters to the right of the runway centerline.
- The application of differential braking to correct the deviation induced a rapid yaw that led to the right wingtip contacting the ground.
- The crew members remained uninjured.