What happened
On March 27, 2009, a Cirrus SR2LL G3, registration N221LD, was performing a VFR flight from Bergamo to Lugo di Romagna. The flight was operated by a pilot and one passenger. During the landing phase on runway 21, the aircraft encountered variable winds from the right. The aircraft initially made contact with the runway on the left main gear, but the lateral wind component caused the aircraft to lift off again with the left wing low and a tendency to drift left.
In an attempt to prevent the landing from becoming unsafe, the pilot applied full power to regain altitude. However, the aircraft lacked sufficient kinetic energy to recover and entered an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently impacted the grass strip to the left of the runway and came to rest in a nearby plowed field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the separation of the engine from the engine mount and the loss of the entire tail cone. Both occupants survived the impact without injuries.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation utilized data from the aircraft's Remote Data Module (RDM), which was recovered in good condition. The analysis of the RDM data allowed investigators to reconstruct the flight parameters, including airspeed, yaw, and the activation of the stall warning. The investigation also examined the aircraft's fuel management and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was inadequate piloting technique during the landing phase, which failed to effectively counteract the crosswind component from the right.
- The pilot's decision to apply power to regain altitude was unsuccessful because the aircraft entered a stall due to insufficient airspeed.
- A contributing factor was a significant fuel imbalance between the wing tanks. The pilot had failed to alternate tanks during cruise, resulting in a lateral imbalance of 14.7 U.S. gallons, which exceeded the manufacturer's maximum limit of 10 U.S. gallons.
- This imbalance contributed to the aircraft's tendency to roll toward the left wing during the landing attempt.
- Meteorological data indicated a crosswind component of approximately 8 knots, which was within the certified limits for the aircraft type.