Factual Information
On 30 March 2017, a Cessna 152, registration OK-HFA, operated by Aviatický klub, s.r.o., was involved in an accident at Raná airfield (LKRA) during a training flight. The pilot, a 20-year-old male student with 34 hours and 28 minutes total flight time (including 9 hours 38 minutes solo), had planned a navigation exercise from LKRO via LKSZ, LKPC, LKZD and back to LKRO. He prepared the navigation sheet the day before and completed the preflight briefing and inspection with his instructor on the day of the flight. After performing touch-and-go landings at the planned airfields, he decided to land at LKRA due to physiological needs.
Weather at the time was reported as visibility greater than 10 km, wind 290° at 10 knots, and CAVOK conditions. The pilot approached runway 29 with full flaps and landed into wind. However, the runway surface had several bumps, causing the aircraft to bounce multiple times. The pilot did not correct these bounces. On the final bounce, the aircraft contacted the runway on its nose gear, which collapsed. The engine stopped abruptly. A breathalyzer test conducted by police was negative.
The aircraft, a Cessna 152 (single-engine, high-wing, tricycle gear), had a valid airworthiness certificate. Damage included destruction of the nose gear leg, which was pushed back under the fuselage, damage to both propeller blades, and damage to the lower engine cowling. The pilot was not injured.
Analysis
The pilot conducted the navigation flight as planned, with the pre-flight preparation and inspection completed with an instructor. The decision to land at LKRA was made en route to address a personal need. During landing, the aircraft encountered uneven runway surfaces, resulting in multiple bounces. The pilot, having limited experience (only 128 flights on type, with 33 solo flights), was unable to recover from the bounces. The final bounce led to a hard impact on the nose gear, which failed under the load. All damage was caused by the abnormal contact with the runway.
Conclusions
The pilot was fit to fly and held a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was airworthy. Weather conditions were suitable for the flight. The cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to manage the aircraft's trajectory during multiple landing bounces, resulting in a nose-first touchdown and subsequent structural failure.
Probable Cause
The cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to manage the technique during multiple bounces of the aircraft on landing.