What happened
On December 30, 2021, a Beechcraft 300 LW, registration TG-MAM, was performing landing maneuvers at the Aeroclub de Guatemala in Rio Dulce, Izabal. The flight involved the pilot and two passengers. During the sequence of landings, the pilot successfully completed an initial landing but noted the presence of crosswinds. While attempting a second landing, the aircraft experienced a loss of control on the runway surface.
The investigation
The DGAC/UIA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the meteorological conditions, and the cockpit configuration. Investigators found that the aircraft's maintenance was current, although the aircraft had exceeded its 100-hour inspection interval by 8.0 hours. The investigation also focused on the cockpit settings during the landing phase. Upon inspecting the autopilot panel, investigators discovered that the Yaw Damp switch was left in the ON position. According to the aircraft's Normal Landing checklist, this switch should be set to OFF to prevent interference with the directional control pedals during landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of control was strong gusting crosswinds at the surface.
- The pilot experienced a loss of situational awareness, failing to implement necessary safety measures to compensate for the wind conditions.
- A contributing factor was the incorrect configuration of the Yaw Damp switch, which was left in the ON position, potentially affecting the pilot's ability to use the rudder pedals effectively during the landing.
- The aircraft was operating slightly beyond its scheduled 100-hour maintenance interval.