What happened
On February 2, 2016, a private Cirrus SR2XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (registration N860PC) was operating a flight from Magdeburg Airport, Germany, to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. During the approach to runway 27, the aircraft was flying behind an Embraer 190. The pilot was performing an ILS approach under instrument flight rules, transitioning to visual references at approximately 500 feet.
As the aircraft neared the runway, the pilot reduced speed to approximately 85 knots. Due to fluctuating wind conditions, the aircraft descended more sharply than anticipated, causing the aircraft to strike the runway and bounce multiple times. Following the third bounce, the pilot applied full power to initiate a go-around.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) examined the flight preparations, the aircraft's technical data, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation reviewed the pilot's experience, the aircraft's maintenance and weight/balance calculations, and the meteorological data from Schiphol. The investigation also analyzed data from the aircraft's onboard SD card recorder, which captured flight parameters at 1Hz.
Findings
At the time of the landing, Schiphol was experiencing visual meteorological conditions with winds from 260 degrees at speeds between 15 and 28 knots. While the crosswind components were within the aircraft's operational limits, the variability in wind speed and direction likely contributed to the initial hard landing and subsequent bounces.
During the critical phase of the go-around, the aircraft's airspeed dropped below the stall speed. The investigation established that the pilot failed to apply sufficient right rudder to counteract the leftward yawing motion caused by the propeller's slipstream (prop wash). This lack of directional control, combined with the low airspeed, led to a loss of control at a low altitude. The aircraft's left wing and left landing gear struck the runway, causing the aircraft to spin and eventually break in two in the grass south of the runway. The pilot, the sole occupant, escaped without injury.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations were issued in this report, as the investigation focused on the immediate causal factors of the loss of control during the go-around maneuver.