Accident of Diamond Katana Aircraft DA-20C1:
9N-AIC of Shivani Air Pvt. Ltd. at Bharatpur Airport

1. Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft incurred significant damage during its roll on uneven ground outside the runway and in the subsequent pilot's attempt to bring the aircraft back on the runway. This resulted in the nose landing gear getting detached. The detachment of the nose landing gear assembly resulted in the aircraft propellers contacting ground causing extensive damage to the wooden propeller, engine.

2. Probable Cause
The investigation team determines the probable cause of the accident to be pilot's decision to attempt landing despite a high final approach. The attempt to land resulted in the aircraft gathering excessive airspeed, which during the execution of flare maneuvers resulted in ballooning of the aircraft, which under the influence of prevailing cross-wind caused the aircraft to drift to the right outside the runway. Pilot's inability to realize this drift before touchdown and initiate a go-around resulted in the aircraft right main wheel touching down outside the runway. Subsequent attempt to tae-off caused the loss of directional control resulting in the aircraft existing the runway on the other side.
Unreliable or inaccurate wind information relayed by Bharatpur tower could have also contributed to the accident.

3. Safety Recommendations

• CAAN should amend Chapter B.7 of the NFSR Part I (Pilot Schools) in order to bring conformity with ICAO Doc 9401 on "Manual on Establishment and Operation of Aviation Training Centers" to ensure compliance with ICAO Annex 1, Licensing of Personnel.
• Unless the internal base airport for prospective flying school applicant fulfills the requirements of ICAO Doc 9401 on "Manual of Establishment and Operation of Aviation Training Centers", CAAN should not issue Flying School Certificates to the applicants with such airports specified as operating bases.
• CAAN should investigate as to why the 9N-AIC aircraft was granted a C of A despite the absence of compliance with regulations regarding the approval of maintenance manual and schedule for the aircraft. This investigation should also inquire about causes of the flying school's non-adherence to its approves Training and Procedures Manual for so long and how it unnoticed during the past audits.
• CAAN must develop maintenance calendar to ensure meteorological equipment operated by it are serviced/maintained as per manufacturer's specifications in order to maintain accuracy of the data to be used by flight crew.
• Shivani Air must adhere to its approved Training and Procedures Manual for conducting both- ground training as well as flight training.
• Means for providing psychological counseling to students who appear to be lagging behind must be established.
• Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of  Nepal, should prepare guidelines based on existing ICAO provisions before issuing Flying School Licenses to future aspirants. Without this, it may be impossible to issue licenses to trainees at par with ICAO Standards.