What happened
On May 3, 2012, a CAP-4 aircraft, registration PP-HCP, was conducting a flight instruction mission at the Maringá Aerodrome (SBMG) in Paraná, Brazil. The flight involved an instructor and a student pilot. After approximately fifty minutes of flight time, the aircraft attempted to land on the runway. Upon the initial touchdown, the aircraft experienced a float. During the second contact with the runway, the aircraft veered to the left, causing it to exit the runway surface and collide with the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights.
The investigation
The investigation established that the crew members were operating with valid medical certificates, and the instructor held a valid technical rating. The student pilot was in training. The aircraft was found to be in compliance with airworthiness requirements, with all maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe up to date. Furthermore, the aircraft was within its proper weight and balance limits at the time of the incident. Meteorological conditions at the time of the occurrence were favorable for the intended flight.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, engine, fuselage, landing gear, and left wing.
- The collision resulted in damage to third-party property, specifically the PAPI lighting system.
- The primary factor in the excursion was the leftward yaw following the second touchdown after a floating maneuver.