What happened
On April 14, 2021, a Tecnam P2002 Sierra, registration LV-S008, was conducting a local evaluation flight at Cañuelas Aerodrome in Buenos Aires. The flight was intended to certify a student for a Private Pilot License. After approximately 30 minutes of flight time, while performing maneuvers near the airfield, the aircraft experienced a loss of control at a low altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground and subsequently caught fire, leading to the destruction of the airframe, engine, and propeller. Both occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and the flight inspector, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the regulatory environment of the flight school. The investigation focused on the qualifications of the flight inspector and the operational status of the training center. Investigators found that while the inspector held a valid medical certificate, there was a lack of clear regulatory documentation regarding the specific requirements, certification, or flight hour equivalencies for the role of a flight inspector. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the flight school was operating under a regulatory extension, yet there was no evidence that its transition to a new certification standard had been completed within the required timeframe.
Additionally, the investigation looked into fuel usage. Evidence suggested the aircraft may have been operated using automotive gasoline, which contains approximately 12% ethanol. While the aircraft's flight manual did not explicitly prohibit this, the engine manufacturer's recommendations suggest avoiding ethanol content exceeding 10%, and Argentine regulations prohibit the use of automotive fuels in aviation.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an unrecoverable loss of control at low altitude.
- There was a lack of specific, quantified regulatory requirements for the certification and qualification of flight inspectors.
- The flight school's compliance with updated certification standards for training centers was unverified.
- The use of automotive gasoline with 12% ethanol was identified as a potential operational risk, as it exceeds the 10% ethanol threshold recommended by the engine manufacturer.