What happened
On July 22, 2004, a Cirrus SR 20, registration N 5338S, was performing a VFR flight from Prague (LKPD) to Ústí nad Orlicí (LKUO). The pilot arrived at the airfield from the west and joined the right-hand pattern for runway 32, selecting the southeastern portion of the grass strip for landing.
During the landing phase, the aircraft touched down at a speed of 75 KT. The initial contact occurred on the right main gear, followed by the left main gear, with a simultaneous upward pitch of the nose. In response to this pitch-up motion, the pilot applied forward pressure on the control column. Due to forward inertial forces, the rotating propeller struck the grass surface multiple times. The aircraft continued to taxi toward the parking area without further propeller strikes.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot held a valid PPL and Class 1 medical certificate. The aircraft's technical condition and equipment were found to be airworthy and did not contribute to the event. At the time of the accident, the airfield surface was wet due to recent rain showers, though conditions remained suitable for landing. The investigation examined the aircraft's landing marks, which showed a series of bounces and contacts along the runway.
Physical damage to the aircraft included the nose gear strut at the fork junction and the composite aerodynamic fairing. The propeller blades showed soil impacts and minor abrasions. Measurements revealed that the propeller tip clearance from the ground was 154 mm, which was 49 mm below the required minimum of 203 mm for maximum takeoff weight.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to land during a brief window between rain showers, which created time pressure.
- Due to this pressure, the pilot prioritized a quick landing over landing quality, resulting in an approach and touchdown at an excessively high speed.
- The pilot's reaction to the nose-up pitch (applying forward pressure) led to the propeller striking the ground.