Incident Overview
On 29 July 2007 at 0945Z, a Tecnam P92 Echo Super (registration ZU-EKS) was involved in an incident during a commercial training flight at Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC). The aircraft was conducting touch-and-go landings on Runway 17. The weather was fine with a surface wind of 60°/8 knots and a temperature of 17°C.
Sequence of Events
According to the instructor, the aircraft was directionally unstable on approach due to a slight crosswind from the left. During the round-out, the student positioned the aircraft left of the runway centreline, heading toward the left grass verge. The instructor took over and applied rudder and aileron inputs to realign the aircraft with the centreline. The instructor then allowed the student to continue the landing. The aircraft's nose again moved left into the wind (weathercock effect). The student did not apply corrective action on touchdown, and the aircraft veered violently left. The instructor instructed the student to regain the centreline; the student applied right rudder, causing the aircraft to veer excessively to the right and skid sideways. The instructor applied left rudder to counteract this, and at that point the nose wheel collapsed.
Aircraft and Operator Information
At the time of the incident, the aircraft had undergone its last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) on 21 June 2007 at 293.98 airframe hours, with an additional 50.82 hours flown since. The MPI was certified by AMO No.1044, which held a valid approval certificate (issued 12 April 2007, expiry 30 April 2008) and had been audited on 5 April 2007 with no major deficiencies found. The aircraft was operated by an Aviation Training Organisation (No.CAA/0212) with a valid Training School Authority to Fly expiring 21 June 2008.
Personnel
The instructor held a valid licence with total flying experience of 294.5 hours, including 10.7 hours on type. The student pilot had accumulated 23.9 hours dual and 1.5 hours solo on type. The flight was a training exercise.
Probable Cause
The student applied an incorrect technique in landing in crosswind conditions, causing a loss of directional control during landing, and the instructor was unable to intervene timeously.