What happened
On February 22, 2019, a flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a night visual flight rules (NVFR) training session in a Tecnam P2010, registration HB-KMK, at Basel-Mulhouse Airport (LFSB). The flight was part of a series of training maneuvers involving various approach patterns.
Due to heavy traffic at the airport, air traffic control instructed the crew to switch their approach from runway 15 to runway 26. Unlike the previous runway, runway 26 lacked centerline and approach lighting. During the transition to runway 26, the aircraft performed a touch-and-go landing that resulted in multiple bounces on the runway. The student pilot eventually initiated a go-around, but the aircraft's nose gear and propeller had already made contact with the ground. While the crew did not notice anything unusual during the flight, the damage to the propeller blade and nose gear fairing was discovered the following morning.
The investigation
The SUST investigation examined the flight parameters, the lighting conditions of the different runways, and the crew's actions. The investigation focused on the descent rates and approach speeds recorded during the maneuvers, noting that several approaches were performed with sink rates exceeding 1500 ft/min and speeds as high as 90 KIAS. The investigators also reviewed the visual differences between runway 15 and runway 26, specifically how the lack of centerline lighting on runway 26 altered the pilot's perception of the runway width and length.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing a non-stabilized approach with an airspeed of approximately 85 KIAS at 50 feet, significantly exceeding the recommended 70 KIAS.
- The aircraft experienced multiple bounces on the runway before a go-around was executed.
- The flight instructor did not intervene to take control of the aircraft or instruct the student to perform a timely go-around despite the unstable approach.
- The change in runway lighting configuration (moving from a well-lit runway to one lacking centerline lights) increased the complexity of the landing task.
- High traffic volume necessitated frequent changes in approach direction, contributing to the unstable flight conditions.