2003 Tecnam P92-JS accident at Calaf Aerodrome (EC-IJB)

Overview and flight details On Saturday, 12 April 2003, at 09:12, a Tecnam P92-JS registered EC-IJB was involved in an accident at Calaf Aerodrome in Barcelona. The aircraft was operating a general aviation pleasure flight between Sabadell and Calaf, with the pilot as the sole occupant. ## Aircraft and pilot The aircraft was a very light aircraft certified under JAR-VLA, with a maximum takeoff mass of 520 kg, two seats, and a single Rotax 912 S2 engine. It was manufactured in 2002 and had serial number 020. The pilot-in-command was a 55-year-old private pilot with 73 total flight hours, including 11 hours on the type. ## Sequence of events The pilot made a reconnaissance pass and then a full approach circuit to runway 31. Observing aeromodelling enthusiasts at the runway threshold, the pilot made a long landing, touching down in the second quarter of the runway. The landing was described as hard, with an estimated touchdown speed of about 60 kt. After touchdown, the pilot voluntarily steered the aircraft left toward a path parallel to the runway, believing it would offer better taxiing conditions. On entering the path, at an estimated speed of about 42 kt, the nose gear struck a hard-soil rise in the centre of the path and collapsed. The aircraft’s nose struck the ground, breaking the propeller and damaging the engine mount and cowling. The pilot exited the aircraft unharmed. ## Damage and findings The nose gear was found fully folded, with mud on the wheel. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear, propeller, engine mount, and engine cowling. No other damage was reported. ## Contributing factors The investigation indicated that the long, hard landing was influenced by the presence of aeromodellers at the runway threshold. The touchdown speed was estimated to be 16 kt above the manual’s recommended value. Although sufficient runway length likely remained to stop the aircraft, the pilot chose to taxi onto the side path. The combination of high taxi speed, mud, and a lateral load on the nose gear when striking the path’s rise at an angle of about 45 degrees caused the nose gear to collapse. The flight club to which the aircraft belonged stated it would establish minimum experience requirements for pilots to fly solo to the private aerodrome.