What happened
On January 5, 2023, at approximately 19:30 UTC, a Vimana-R-12 experimental aircraft, registration PU-ARI, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Aquiraz, Ceará. The aircraft had departed from Aeródromo Catuleve (SJCM) for a local flight with a single pilot on board. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, witnesses observed the aircraft in a steep dive before it struck the water roughly 200 meters from the shoreline.
The impact was severe, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. Although the pilot was rescued from the sea by bystanders, he sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot was fully qualified, holding a valid private pilot license and medical certificate, with approximately 8/00 total flight hours and recent experience in the aircraft type. The aircraft, an amateur-built model, was operating under a valid Experimental Flight Authorization (CAVE) and Airworthiness Verification Certificate (CVA).
During the investigation, physical evidence revealed that the aircraft's wings, horizontal stabilizers, and elevators had separated from the fuselage. Witnesses reported seeing the wings break off during flight, a claim supported by the condition of the wreckage recovered from the beach. Investigators also identified a history of structural damage, noting that a previous fracture in the elevator had occurred due to exceeding the aircraft's operational limits.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a structural failure during flight.
- The aircraft was observed in a nose-down attitude prior to impact.
- The investigation could not confirm if the aircraft was operating within its established weight and balance limits.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for visual flight rules (VFR).
- The aircraft's structural integrity was compromised, as evidenced by the separation of the wings and tail components.