What happened

On 13 May 2016, the student pilot of a Cessna 172S aircraft, registered VH-EWZ (EWZ), was conducting solo circuits at Moorabbin Airport, Victoria. The runway in use was runway 35 right (35R), and the wind was west to north-westerly at 10 to 20 kt. At the same time, the pilot of a Cessna 172R aircraft, registered VH-SYH (SYH), was also conducting circuits. SYH was the aircraft immediately ahead of EWZ in the circuit.

The student pilot of EWZ completed eight circuits. During that time, the wind, in particular the crosswind, increased and was subsequently reported as 9 to 15 kt from the left of runway 35R.

At the completion of their circuit training, the pilot of SYH landed and taxied clear of runway 35R, stopping on taxiway E facing north-west (Figure 1). Soon after SYH landed, at about 1059 Eastern Standard Time (EST), EWZ was on the final approach for another touch-and-go landing.^[1]

The pilot reported that during the landing, EWZ touched down heavily to the left of the runway centreline.^[2] The pilot then applied full power to continue the take-off. As the power increased, the aircraft yawed to the left and ran off the runway. At that time, the pilot of EWZ sighted SYH on the taxiway, reduced the power to idle and applied full right rudder in an effort to avoid SYH.

Figure 1: Moorabbin Airport showing location of collision

Source: Google earth – annotated by ATSB

The underside of the left wing of EWZ contacted the top of the right wing of SYH (Figure 2). EWZ came to a stop on the grass to the left of runway 35R. Both aircraft sustained minor damage and the pilots were uninjured (Figure 3).

Figure 2: Damage to right wing of VH-SYH

Source: Aircraft operator

Figure 3: Damage to left wing of VH-EWZ

Source: Aircraft operator

Pilot comments

Pilot of VH-EWZ

The pilot of EWZ provided the following comments:

• In the previous circuits, they had conducted a go-around^[3] when they were not comfortable with the approach. On the accident circuit, they assessed that the approach was normal, and elected to continue to land.
• As they applied power to take-off, the aircraft yawed^[4] left. They assessed that they may not have applied sufficient rudder input to counter the yaw effect of the increase in power.
• They were using a higher power setting than normal on final approach to maintain the desired approach path due to the crosswind.

Operator comments

Operator of VH-SYH

The operator of VH-SYH provided the following comment:

• In their experience on this aircraft type, yaw induced by crosswind has the potential to be significantly greater than left yaw induced by propeller effects. They suggested that the left yaw induced by the reported crosswind from the left, coupled with not so strong left yaw from propeller effects, combined to create the strong left yaw reportedly experienced.

Safety action

Whether or not the ATSB identifies safety issues in the course of an investigation, relevant organisations may proactively initiate safety action in order to reduce their safety risk. The ATSB has been advised of the following safety action in response to this occurrence.

Operator of VH-EWZ

As a result of this occurrence, the aircraft operator has advised the ATSB that they are taking the following safety actions:

Company instructors have reviewed the landing technique they were using and teaching. A video demonstration of approach and landing technique was recorded, both for staff training purposes and as a training tool.

Safety message

This incident highlights the importance of knowing your own limits. Pilots should use a ‘personal minimums’ checklist to help control and manage flight risks through identifying risk factors including weather conditions that may affect aircraft handling.

This incident also underlines the importance of applying correct technique during all phases of flight, including take-off and landing. The CAA NZ – Flight Instructor Guide - Crosswind Circuit provides useful information for crosswind operations.

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^[1]     Touch-and-go landing is a manoeuvre which is common when learning to fly fixed-wing aircraft. It involves landing on a runway and taking off again without coming to a full stop. Usually the pilot then circles the airport in a defined pattern known as a circuit and repeats the manoeuvre. This allows many landings to be completed in a short time.

^[2]     The ATSB obtained recorded data from the incident flight for EWZ. The data showed the aircraft touched down slightly to the right of the runway centreline.

^[3]     A go-around, the procedure for discontinuing an approach to land, is a standard manoeuvre performed when a pilot is not completely satisfied that the requirements for a safe landing have been met. This involves the pilot discontinuing the approach to land and may involve gaining altitude before conducting another approach to land.

^[4]     Term used to describe the motion of an aircraft about its vertical or normal axis.