What happened
On January 31, 2019, an Embraer EMB-810, registration PT-EPN, was performing a ferry flight from Dourados, MS, to Sorocaba, SP, for maintenance purposes. The aircraft was operated by Fototerra Atividades de Aerolevantamento Ltda and was carrying a pilot and one special equipment operator.
Upon landing at Sorocaba Airport (SDCO), the aircraft began its landing roll under favorable meteorological conditions. During the deceleration phase, the right main landing gear began to retract partially. This caused the aircraft to veer off the right side of the runway, eventually coming to a stop approximately 17 meters from the centerline. The aircraft exited the paved surface and entered the grass, where the right side of the fuselage and the engine group sustained contact with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though both occupants were unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's landing gear mechanism and the runway surface. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and that all maintenance logs were up to date. No debris or runway irregularities were found that could have contributed to the event.
Technical analysis of the landing gear system revealed that the retraction and extension mechanisms, including the locking system and microswitches, were fully functional and showed no mechanical failures or broken parts. Testing conducted after the accident demonstrated that the nose and both main landing gear legs operated correctly. However, excessive wear was noted on the sidewall of the right main tire, indicating abnormal friction with the ground during the incident.
Findings
- The most probable cause was a landing with a significant left yaw angle, which created lateral loads on the right main landing gear.
- This lateral load caused a momentary failure in the right landing gear locking mechanism, leading to its partial retraction.
- The complete retraction of the gear occurred after the aircraft left the runway, likely due to the uneven terrain of the grass area.