What happened
On August 13, 2002, at approximately 13:15 local time, a Socata Tobago TB10, registration EC-FSN, was conducting a solo instructional flight at Salamanca Airport. The pilot, a student trainee, was performing a local flight within the airspace adjacent to the aerodrome.
During the final approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was higher than anticipated. Due to the lack of significant wind, the pilot decided to deploy full flaps to initiate a glide. This maneuver led to an unstable approach; after an initial bounce, the pilot attempted a second go-around but lacked sufficient altitude. The aircraft subsequently touched down with all three landing gear components on the runway, resulting in at least two subsequent bounces. The pilot applied power to stabilize the aircraft and completed the landing.
The investigation
Following the incident, a technical inspection of the aircraft was conducted in a workshop. After removing the engine and propeller, investigators discovered that the engine mount was bent, which had caused deformations to the firewall. Further inspection behind the firewall revealed that the zero bulkhead and the upper fuselage skin had also sustained damage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the incorrect execution of the landing maneuver.
- The unstable approach and subsequent bounces were likely associated with the pilot's limited experience, as the individual was still in the process of training for a private pilot license.
- The impact of the bounces caused structural damage to the landing gear, engine mount, firewall, and fuselage bulkheads.