What happened
On January 6, 2021, a Cessna 152, registration PP-EMF, was conducting a local instructional flight at Brigadeiro Antônio Cabral Airport (SNDV) in Divinópolis, MG. The flight, operated by Escola de Aviação Civil EMFA Ltda., involved a flight instructor and a student pilot performing a specific training mission (PI-15) focused on engine failure procedures following takeoff.
During the session, the crew performed three separate simulations of engine power loss. For each repetition, the crew intentionally reduced altitude to progress the training. During the third attempt, the aircraft was observed performing an aggressive left-hand turn to align with the runway. Following this maneuver, the aircraft executed a hard landing on the runway, approximately 200 meters from the threshold of runway 35. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, though both occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, fuel quality, and engine performance. The investigation found that the engine was functioning normally within manufacturer parameters and that the fuel sampled from the airfield's supply tank met all required specifications. Both pilots held valid medical certificates and necessary ratings, and the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
Investigators noted that the aircraft was moved from the runway to a hangar by the operator before the investigation authority could arrive, which hindered the collection of certain physical evidence. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted that while the aircraft's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) advises that returning to the runway after an engine failure is rarely possible due to altitude and airspeed constraints, the flight school's standard operating procedures provided only generic guidance regarding simulated failures, leaving the minimum training altitude to the instructor's discretion.
Findings
- The crew was performing a simulated engine failure maneuver at an altitude that may have been insufficient to safely complete a return to the runway.
- The third training repetition involved an aggressive maneuvering profile that led to the hard landing.
- There were no indications of mechanical failure or contaminated fuel contributing to the event.