What happened
On December 7, 2016, a Neiva 56-C, registration PP-GXB, operated by Aeroclube de Bragança Paulista, was performing a solo local flight at Arthur Siqueira Aerodrome (SBBP) in Bragança Paulista, Brazil. The flight was intended to be a short, approximately seven-minute mission consisting of a traffic pattern and a landing.
Upon completing the landing, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway. The student pilot was uninjured, and the aircraft sustained no damage during the excursion.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation examined the training records and flight performance of the student pilot. Investigators found that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all required certifications, including the pilot's medical certificate and the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, were valid. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable, with light variable winds between 4 and 6 knots.
However, the investigation revealed significant discrepancies in the flight training process. Prior to the solo flight, the student had completed several training phases, including eight sessions of pre-solo flight maneuvers (PS-10). In seven of those eight sessions, the student failed to meet the minimum required performance levels. Furthermore, out of 21 flights completed before the solo mission, the student demonstrated low performance in nine of them. Instructors noted that the student struggled with aircraft control following landings in crosswind conditions.
Crucially, the investigation found that the Flight Training Evaluation Forms (FAP) did not adequately capture the student's actual learning progress. The grading system used for the exercises did not align with the established learning levels required by aviation regulations, which compromised the accuracy of the instructors' assessments.
Findings
- Inadequate training evaluation: The primary cause of the incident was the failure to accurately monitor and record the student's learning progress, as the evaluation forms lacked specific learning level indicators.
- Inconsistent performance: The student pilot demonstrated a pattern of failing to meet minimum performance standards during several pre-solo training sessions.
- Instructional oversight: Instructors did not properly observe or document the student's inability to maintain control during specific maneuvers, such as landing with crosswinds.
- Administrative gaps: The training documentation lacked a dedicated space for providing specific guidance to instructors regarding student progress.