What happened
On 20 March 2008, a Piper PA-28-140 was conducting circuit training at Brakpan Benoni Aerodrome with an instructor and a student pilot on board. During the first approach of the flight, the student pilot struggled with maintaining the runway centerline, resulting in the aircraft veering left before the crew successfully recovered.
During the second approach, the student pilot applied full left rudder, causing the aircraft to yaw and roll toward the left. The instructor attempted to correct this by applying right rudder to return the aircraft to the centerline; however, the instructor did not notify the student that she had taken control. Simultaneously, the student applied full right rudder to correct the initial left yaw. This dual input resulted in an abrupt right yaw. The aircraft subsequently made a hard landing on the nose gear, causing the gear to collapse. The aircraft veered off the right side of the runway, and the propeller struck the ground. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the flight sequence and the aircraft's mechanical state. The investigation confirmed that there were no engine or aircraft system malfunctions and that the aircraft had been properly maintained. The weather conditions at the time were fine with clear visibility. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was being used for training but lacked brakes on the instructor's side.
Findings
- The student pilot's initial application of excessive left rudder caused the aircraft to yaw and roll.
- The instructor applied corrective right rudder without communicating the change in control to the student.
- Simultaneous control inputs from both pilots caused an abrupt right yaw and a heavy impact on the nose gear.
- The instructor had not flown this specific aircraft type within the previous 90 days.
- The instructor failed to intervene effectively to rectify the student's loss of control during the approach.