What happened
On July 1, 2012, an Aeroboero AB-115, registration PP-FKW, was performing a private pilot training flight at Bacacheri Aerodrome (SBBI) in Curitiba, Brazil. The flight crew consisted of an instructor and a student pilot.
During the takeoff roll, the student pilot accelerated the engine and rotated the aircraft at 38 MPH. During this process, the student applied excessive rudder input and rotated the aircraft beyond the recommended parameters. This caused the aircraft to yaw slightly to the right before swerving sharply to the and left. Although the instructor attempted to take control of the aircraft, the deviation could not be corrected. The aircraft exited the left side of the runway and came to a stop in a grassy area. Both occupants were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight controls and the supervision of the training process. Investigators reviewed the student's flight training records, which revealed that the student had previously demonstrated significant difficulty maintaining directional control during takeoff rolls. Specifically, previous evaluation forms noted a pattern of excessive rudder use.
The investigation also examined the role of the flight instructor and the flight training coordinator. While the instructor was qualified, they failed to notice the recurring difficulties documented in the student's previous flight logs. Furthermore, the investigation identified a lack of adequate management supervision, as the Practical Instruction Coordinator had not addressed the student's documented performance discrepancies through proper instructor guidance.
Findings
- Improper control inputs by the student pilot, including excessive rudder use and improper rotation.
- Inadequate flight instruction oversight, as the instructor failed to recognize the student's documented difficulty with directional control.
- Deficient management supervision, specifically the failure of the Practical Instruction Coordinator to monitor student performance and provide necessary corrective guidance to instructors.