What happened
On February 1, 2020, at approximately 20:52 UTC, a Flyer RV-9A ultralight aircraft, registration PU-FMD, crashed into a lagoon near the Kemil Kumaira Aerodrome in Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais. The aircraft was conducting a local flight with a pilot and one passenger on board.
Witnesses observed the aircraft performing a low-altitude pass over the surface of a nearby lagoon. During a turn, the left wing appeared to lose lift, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft struck the water and was submerged. Local fire crews recovered the wreckage, which was completely destroyed. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot had a valid medical certificate, but his Advanced Ultralight (UATE) rating had been expired since July 2019. While the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and had undergone all required pre-flight inspections, the investigation focused on the nature of the flight maneuvers.
According to the manufacturer's flight manual, the Flyer RV-9A is not certified for aerobatic maneuvers. Under Brazilian aeronautical regulations (RBHA 91), maneuvers involving intentional abrupt changes in attitude or abnormal variations in speed are classified as aerobatic flight. The investigation concluded that the flight involved maneuvers that violated these regulatory limitations.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing low-altitude maneuvers that exceeded its design limitations.
- The pilot was operating with an expired ultralight pilot rating.
- The aircraft's left wing likely experienced a loss of lift during a turn, causing the loss of control.
- The flight involved maneuvers categorized as aerobatic, which the aircraft model is not authorized to perform.