What happened
On January 18, 2007, a Beechcraft 95-C55, registration PT-AFV, operated by FRETAX Táxi Aéreo, crashed in the municipality of Bocaiúva, Minas Gerais. The aircraft had departed from Belo Horizonte for Montes Claros, carrying 700 lbs of cargo and one passenger in addition to the pilot. Approximately 70 km from its destination, the aircraft was found completely destroyed at Fazenda Tiririca. The pilot and the passenger both sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators analyzed the wreckage and recovered GPS data to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation focused on the cause of the aircraft's disintegration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) performed on fragments of the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer revealed that the fractures were caused by overload (overstress), with no evidence of pre-existing cracks or corrosion.
GPS data indicated a sudden and extreme change in flight dynamics. During the descent, the aircraft's ground speed dropped sharply, and the aircraft reached a momentary speed of over 600 knots. The investigation also noted that the pilot, known for an adventurous flying style, had allowed an unauthorized passenger to board the flight. Evidence suggested that the pilot may have attempted a vertical maneuver or allowed the passenger to take the controls, leading to an excessive G-load that caused the horizontal stabilizer to detach in flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a structural failure resulting from an excessive G-load during an unauthorized maneuver.
- The pilot performed or permitted a maneuver that exceeded the aircraft's structural design limits.
- The operator, based in São Paulo, lacked effective oversight of the pilot's operations in Belo Horizonte.
- The pilot operated with significant autonomy, managing flight planning, weight and balance, and passenger boarding without company supervision.
- The aircraft's horizontal stabilizer detached during flight due to the extreme stress applied.
Safety action
CENIPA issued several safety recommendations to FRETAX Táxi Aéreo, including:
- Improving managerial supervision of pilots during flight activities.
- Ensuring that flight hour logs in the aircraft logbooks accurately reflect actual flight time.
- Disseminating the findings of this investigation to all company pilots and relevant personnel.