What happened
On February 2, 2021, a Cessna U206F, registration PT-WEE, was performing a passenger transport flight from Ourilândia do Norte to Pista Aldeia Kokraymoro in São Félix do Xingu, Pará. The flight was operated by a taxi-air company under contract for indigenous health services.
Upon landing at the private airstrip, the aircraft was in its landing roll when the right main landing gear collided with a pig on the runway. The impact caused the right main gear to detach, leading the fuselage and the right wingtip to make contact with the ground. The aircraft continued to slide along the runway before veering off to the left side, which subsequently caused the nose gear to break. Despite the substantial damage to the aircraft, the pilot and the four passengers on board were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified with valid instrument and multi-engine ratings, and the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits. The weather conditions were favorable for the flight.
Investigators found that the airstrip lacked operational fencing to segregate the runway from the surrounding area, allowing animals and people to access the operational zone. Furthermore, high vegetation along the sides of the unpaved runway provided potential shelter and food sources for wildlife. While the air taxi operator had identified the risk of wildlife collision in its operational risk management documents, the investigation revealed a lack of effective monitoring or implementation of mitigation measures, such as providing fencing or coordinating with the airfield operator.
Findings
- Infrastructure deficiencies: The lack of perimeter fencing at the airfield allowed wildlife access to the runway.
- Wildlife presence: The collision with a pig was the immediate trigger for the gear failure.
- Management oversight: Inadequate supervision of risk mitigation processes and a lack of effective wildlife risk management by the airfield operator.