What happened
On August 20, 2022, at approximately 21:50 UTC, a Cessna A-150-L, registration LV-LFM, was performing a local instructional flight at the Rosario de la Frontera aerodrome in Salta, Argentina. After two hours of flight time, the instructor decided to allow the student pilot to conduct a solo flight. During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced an abnormal contact with the runway, which caused the plane to bounce. This subsequent movement led to a heavy impact of the nose gear against the runway surface. The force of the impact caused the nose gear fork to fracture, leading to the collapse of the gear and causing the propeller to strike the ground, which abruptly stopped the engine. The student pilot was able to exit the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the JST focused on the mechanical integrity of the aircraft and the regulatory compliance of the flight school. Laboratory analysis of the nose gear fork revealed a ductile fracture pattern, confirming that the component failed due to a single-cycle overload of stress caused by the impact with the runway. No prior mechanical defects or fatigue were identified in the landing gear assembly. The runway itself was found to be in good condition, free of significant depressions, holes, or obstacles.
Regarding the pilot and the institution, investigators found that the student pilot was flying with an expired medical certificate. Furthermore, the flight school, Aeroclub Rosario de la Frontera, was in the process of transitioning to a certified Civil Aviation Instruction Center (CIAC). The investigation noted a lack of formal documentation regarding the student's training progress, as there were no official records of the specific theoretical or practical lessons completed. Additionally, the school's Instruction and Procedures Manual (MIP) was not approved and lacked necessary annexes for supervising instruction and flight planning.
Findings
- The primary cause of the aircraft damage was the impact of the nose gear against the runway, which exceeded the structural strength of the fork.
- The student pilot was operating with an invalid medical certificate.
- There was a lack of formal, verifiable records regarding the student's instructional progress and lesson outcomes.
- The flight school's operational manual was unapproved and lacked essential oversight procedures.
- The aircraft was maintained according to manufacturer standards, and no technical failures preceded the impact.