What happened
On February 1, 2018, a Cessna A-188B, registration PR-SUB, was performing an agricultural transit flight in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft departed from an improvised landing area in the rural zone of Dilermando de Aguiar, heading toward Vila Clara, in the municipality of Mata, to prepare for urea application.
During the landing phase, the aircraft made its first contact with the ground approximately 70 meters before the start of the runway, subsequently lifting off again. Upon a second contact, which also occurred before the runway threshold, the aircraft capsized. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries, while the passenger suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft was being operated in violation of its approved flight manual. Although the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and the pilot possessed valid medical and pilot licenses, several regulatory discrepancies were identified.
Investigators found that the aircraft's logbooks for the airframe, engine, and propeller were outdated, with the last entries dating back to July 2017. Furthermore, the investigation focused on the cockpit configuration, noting that the aircraft was certified for a single occupant only. At the time of the accident, a passenger was seated in the same seat as the pilot, which compromised the ergonomics and control capabilities of the aircraft.