What happened
On January 24, 2017, a Piper PA-28 Warrior, registration PK-PBO, was conducting a solo flight training exercise at Nusawiru Airport in Pangandaran, Indonesia. After completing maneuvers in the Pangan training area, the student pilot returned to the aerodrome following instructions from the flight information service.
During the final approach, the pilot encountered wind with an unclear direction as the throttle was closed. This led to a series of five consecutive bounces on the runway. While the aircraft eventually came to a stop on the runway, the pilot attempted a 180-degree turn to taxi toward taxiway B. During this maneuver, the nose wheel exited the paved surface, causing the aircraft to become stuck in the grass approximately 1,000 meters from the start of runway 07. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators from the KNKT analyzed on-site data, radio communications, and interviews with the student pilot. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft following the excursion. The aircraft sustained several points of damage, including bent propeller tips, a bent nose landing gear, and a leaking fuel pump.
Technical analysis of the damage, specifically the bent propeller tips and the scratched engine cowling, suggested that the aircraft experienced a touchdown with an improper nose attitude. Although the student pilot had previously received training on bounce recovery techniques, the investigation sought to determine why the sequence of bounces was not arrested before the fifth impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an incorrect flare technique, which initiated the initial bounce.
- The pilot failed to execute an effective recovery from the first bounce, allowing the aircraft to bounce a total of five times.
- The subsequent attempt to turn the aircraft on the runway led to the nose wheel leaving the pavement and the aircraft becoming stuck on the shoulder.