What happened
On October 28, 2010, at 18:35 UTC, an AeroBoero AB-115, registration PP-GOZ, was conducting a local instructional flight at Campo de Marte Airport (SBMT) in São Paulo, Brazil. The flight, operated by Aeroclube de São Paulo, carried an instructor and a student. The mission was part of the student's pre-solo training phase, with the instructor performing the maneuvers.
During the landing phase, the aircraft encountered a left crosswind and tailwind component. The wind was reported as 180 degrees at 7 knots, which, given the use of runway 30, resulted in a 6-knot left crosswind and a 3.5-knot tailwind. As the aircraft approached the ground at a speed between 60 and 65 MPH with 30 degrees of flaps, the crew experienced difficulty maintaining control. The landing was abrupt, and upon touchdown, the aircraft veered left off the runway centerline. The aircraft exited the left side of the runway, striking a pylon and coming to a stop approximately 20 meters beyond the runway edge. Both occupants were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained light damage to the right wing tip, the right landing gear support, and the right wheel hub cap.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation established that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all required documentation, including airworthiness and pilot certifications, were valid. The investigation focused on the pilot's execution of landing techniques for a conventional gear aircraft under crosswind and tailwind conditions. The investigation noted that while the crosswind component was within manufacturer limits, the tailwind component may have exacerbated the loss of directional control. The investigation also evaluated the effectiveness of the manual's recommended technique—lowering the upwind wing and using rudder and opposite brake—against the pilot's attempt to execute a three-point landing.
Findings
- Improper application of flight controls during the landing phase.
- Errors in pilot judgment regarding the landing technique and the impact of the wind components.