What happened
On 30 January 2025, a DORNIER DO28-G92, registration EC-MSP, was performing specialized aerial work at La Juliana aerodrome in Seville. The flight, operated by SWALLOW AVIACION SL, was intended to be a preparatory circuit for a subsequent parachute drop operation. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and one passenger.
During the first of two planned circuits, the aircraft landed on runway 2 and proceeded down the runway. After taxiing approximately 400 meters, the aircraft began to veer slightly to the right. In an attempt to correct the trajectory and maintain the center of the runway, the aircraft's tail lifted, causing the nose and one propeller blade from each engine to strike the tarmac. The aircraft came to a stop at the point of impact. Both occupants were unhurt.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical state, the weather conditions, and the pilot's execution of landing procedures. The investigation found that the weather was favorable, with nearly no wind, and the engines were functioning correctly. The aircraft, a 1978 model, was within its weight and balance limits and had undergone a scheduled overhaul recently.
Investigators analyzed the specific handling characteristics of the tail-skid aircraft. Because the tail wheel is a freely rotating idler, the aircraft is sensitive to directional changes, requiring the pilot to use both wheel brakes and engine reverse thrust for deceleration and steering. The investigation noted that the reverse thrust adjustment is not perfectly symmetrical between the two engines, which can cause slight deviations in the flight path.
Findings
- The weather conditions were not a limiting factor for the flight.
- The engines were operating normally.
- The aircraft veered to the right during the deceleration phase.
- The pilot deactivated the engine reverse thrust prematurely in an attempt to correct the directional deviation, leading to intense braking at a speed too high for the maneuver.
- This heavy braking action caused the aircraft to pitch forward onto its nose and propellers.