Summary of Events
On 30 June 2019, at 20:20 UTC, a Cessna 150G, registration LV-CMY, departed from Aeropuerto Regional Villa María in Villa María, Córdoba, for a general aviation instructional flight. The aircraft was operated by Aeroclub Villa María. On board were a student pilot, who was pursuing a private pilot license, and a flight instructor. After approximately 15 minutes of flight, during which several touch-and-go circuits were completed, the student performed a full-stop landing. The instructor then disembarked, allowing the student to continue the training session solo.
The student proceeded to practice additional circuits, completing four takeoffs and landings on runway 20 without incident. During the fifth and final planned circuit, the aircraft made an abnormal contact with the runway upon landing. The nose wheel collapsed and separated from its fork, causing damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and other components. The aircraft slid 138 meters on the fork before coming to a stop within the runway limits, with a heading of 190°.
Investigation
The investigation examined runway markings left by the aircraft. The main landing gear made initial contact 216 meters from the runway threshold and two meters left of the centerline. First propeller impact was observed ten meters further. The nose wheel and its axle were found along the aircraft's path. The instructor, who was near the threshold, reported that the landing was hard.
Analysis of the marks indicated that the main gear contacted the runway first, followed almost simultaneously (half a second later) by the nose wheel, in a three-point landing configuration. The nose wheel impact was forceful, as evidenced by deformation of the rim. The axle fractured, causing the wheel to detach. The aircraft then slid on the fork, damaging the shock absorber mounts.
The investigation concluded that the hard landing or abnormal runway contact resulted from the leveling technique applied during the flare, which did not allow for adequate dissipation of kinetic energy for a standard landing. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was on his second solo flight and performing his sixth solo landing.
Conclusions
The aircraft experienced an abnormal runway contact. The leveling technique applied during the landing influenced the abnormal runway contact.