What happened
On December 13, 2011, a Zodiac CH601 HD, registration OM-M407, was conducting training maneuvers at Partizánske Airport (LZPT). The crew, consisting of a pilot and an instructor, were performing flight training exercises in accordance with the Slovak Federation of Ultralight Flying (SFUL) syllabus. During the fourth flight of the day, specifically during circuit training, the aircraft was in the landing phase.
As the aircraft touched down on the grass runway, an irregularity in the terrain caused the aircraft to bounce, reaching an altitude of approximately 2 meters. Following this bounce, the aircraft made a second contact with the ground. This subsequent touchdown was heavy and occurred on the right landing gear strut, resulting in structural deformation of the fork.
No injuries were reported among the crew, though the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's response to the terrain irregularity, and the instructor's role during the maneuver. The board analyzed the landing technique used during the recovery from the bounce and evaluated the impact of the landing speed and control inputs on the resulting structural damage.