What happened
On February 29, 2020, a Piper J-3C, registration LV-NDQ, was conducting a flight training mission near San Andrés de Giles, Buenos Aires. The flight, operated by Club de Planeadores Albatros, was intended to evaluate the pilot's ability to handle emergencies as part of a process to authorize passenger carriage.
During the flight, the crew was practicing a simulated emergency maneuver. While performing the maneuver at an altitude of approximately 10 meters over a cornfield, the aircraft continued a descent despite the application of power. The aircraft subsequently struck a 1.2-meter-high perimeter fence. The impact caused significant damage to the landing gear, engine, and propeller, as well as damage to the aircraft's empennage. Both occupants of the aircraft were able to exit the wreckage on their own and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the regulatory framework governing the flight school. Investigators analyzed the environmental conditions, noting that high ambient temperatures likely affected the aircraft's performance. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance logs for the Piper J-3C and its engine, as well as the institutional status of the flight school regarding its instruction manuals and certification.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at an altitude of approximately 10 meters, which was below the minimum safety altitude of 152.4 meters required by regulations.
- High ambient temperatures likely reduced the aircraft's performance during the attempted escape maneuver.
- The flight school was in the process of developing its Instruction and Procedures Manual (MIP) and was working toward obtaining Civil Aviation Training Center (CIAC) certification.
- There were no records of maintenance inspections for the aircraft or the engine for the previous 130.5 flight hours.
- There is currently a lack of standardized regulatory procedures for conducting simulated emergency maneuvers in flight training.
Safety action
- The investigation identified that the onboard fire extinguisher was a dry powder type, which can obstruct visibility and contaminate the cabin air during an emergency; a recommendation was made to update airworthiness advisories to reflect modern alternatives to Halon.
- A recommendation was issued to establish standardized procedures and limitations for practicing emergency maneuvers during instruction and training flights to ensure uniform safety standards across flight schools.