What happened
On January 4, 2019, a Beechcraft F33A, registration PT-OEB, departed from Jaboticabal Airport (SDJC), São Paulo, en route to Rio Verde, Goiás, for a private flight. While cruising, the pilot experienced an intermittent electrical failure that affected the entire instrument panel, accompanied by a loss of engine performance.
As the aircraft flew over the runway of the Municipal Airport in Fronteira, Minas Gerais, the pilot decided to shut down the engine to perform an emergency landing. However, the pilot was unable to reach the runway and instead executed a forced landing in a sugarcane field near the aerodrome. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's systems and the pilot's credentials. While the pilot reported an electrical malfunction, subsequent workshop testing of the electrical system showed normal operation. However, physical evidence indicated that the engine had indeed been shut down in flight, consistent with the pilot's account.
The investigation also revealed significant regulatory non-compliance. The pilot was operating with an expired single-engine land (MNTE) rating, which had been invalid since July 2015, and an expired medical certificate (CMA) that had lapsed in December 2014. Furthermore, the pilot admitted to the continuous use of medication containing psychoactive substances without medical supervision, a violation of aviation safety regulations.
Findings
- The pilot's expired pilot license and medical certificate may have led to the adoption of inadequate operational procedures during the electrical malfunction.
- The pilot was operating under the influence of unauthorized psychoactive substances.
- The engine was intentionally shut down during the flight.
- Maintenance records for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date.