What happened
On January 25, 2020, at approximately 17:45 UTC, an amateur-built Great Black Hawk, registration PU-ODE, departed from Aeródromo Yolanda Penteado (SDLL) in Leme, São Paulo, for a local recreational flight. The aircraft was carrying two occupants: a pilot and a passenger. During the flight, the engine lost power, forcing the crew to perform an emergency landing in a sugarcane plantation near Leme. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, both occupants emerged from the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation into the occurrence revealed significant regulatory non-compliance regarding the flight crew and aircraft maintenance records. The investigation established that the person operating the controls did not possess a pilot license, flight rating, or a valid Aeronautical Medical Certificate (CMA). Although the passenger held a Recreational Pilot License (CPR), their specific rating for Ultralight Aircraft (UATE) had been expired since December 2012. Furthermore, the operator failed to provide essential documentation, including maintenance and inspection logs, the flight manual, or the engine and airframe logbooks, as required for amateur-built experimental aircraft.
Findings
- The engine failure was the primary cause of the forced landing.
- The person operating the aircraft lacked the necessary qualifications, experience, and medical certification.
- The aircraft's weight and balance status could not be verified at the time of the accident.
- There was a lack of available maintenance and inspection records for the aircraft.
- Inadequate instruction was identified as a contributing factor to the unsafe operation.