2013 Rockwell Commander 114 accident at Flores Aerodrome (N114U)

Occurrence Overview On 2 February 2013, a Rockwell International Commander 114 with registration N114U, operated by International Aircraft Services LLC, was involved in an accident while landing at Flores Aerodrome (SWFN) in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the sole occupant, the pilot, was uninjured. ## Flight History The aircraft was conducting a ferry flight from the United States to Brazil. It entered Brazilian airspace through Boa Vista (SBBV) on 1 February 2013. The following day, it departed SBBV for SWFN with only the pilot aboard. During landing on runway 11 at SWFN, the aircraft departed the right side of the runway and its right wing struck vegetation, coming to rest approximately 70 meters from the runway edge. ## Meteorological Conditions A routine METAR from nearby SBEG at 19:00 UTC reported winds of 010° at 4 kt. However, a special METAR (SPECI) issued at 19:27 UTC reported winds from 080° at 17 kt with gusts to 27 kt, moderate thunderstorms with rain, and a ceiling of 1,800 ft. The manufacturer's maximum crosswind component for landing was 19 kt. ## Contributing Factors The investigation identified adverse meteorological conditions as a contributing factor. The pilot reported that the crosswind was strong during the final approach but judged that a landing could be made without major problems. The aircraft lost alignment during landing and departed the runway, with the crosswind component exceeding the manufacturer's established limits being the probable cause of the departure.