Engine Failure Leads to Forced Landing of Cessna 182P in Mato Grosso

Casualties unknown • RIO VERDE DE MATO GROSSO, MS, BR

A Cessna 182P experienced an engine failure during initial climb, resulting in a forced landing and significant aircraft damage near Rio Verde de Mato Grosso.

What happened

On August 27, 2009, a Cessna 182P, registration PT-JLN, departed from the Fazenda Giruá aerodrome in Rio Verde de Mato Grosso, Brazil, for a local flight. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft experienced a complete engine failure. In an attempt to return to the runway, the pilot executed a left-hand turn at a low altitude. This maneuver caused the aircraft to lose airspeed and lift, leading to a stall. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground in a nose-down attitude, approximately 20 meters from the side of the runway, and overturned. The pilot sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft suffered severe damage to the fuselage, wings, and landing gear.

The investigation

CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses, noting that the engine was undergoing maintenance in a nearby hangar the morning before the accident. Analysis of the propeller blades showed that the engine was not producing power at the moment of impact. The investigation also revealed significant regulatory non-compliance regarding both the pilot and the aircraft. The pilot was flying with an expired medical certificate and an expired pilot certificate (CHT), and was not properly qualified for the flight. Furthermore, the aircraft's airworthiness certificate had been canceled since 2001, and the annual maintenance inspection had been overdue since 1988. Maintenance was reportedly being performed by unqualified personnel.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was the engine failure during the climb.
  • The pilot's attempt to turn back to the runway at low altitude and low speed induced a stall.
  • Inadequate maintenance practices, including the use of unqualified personnel and the lack of a formal maintenance program, likely contributed to the engine failure.
  • Flight indiscipline was a contributing factor, as the pilot operated the aircraft with expired licenses and medical certification.
  • The aircraft was in an unairworthy condition, with a canceled airworthiness certificate and long-overdue inspections.

Probable cause

An engine failure during the initial climb phase, compounded by an improper flight maneuver (a low-altitude turn attempting to return to the runway) that resulted in a stall.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2009-08-27 aircraft accident near RIO VERDE DE MATO GROSSO, MS, BR?

A Cessna 182P experienced an engine failure during initial climb, resulting in a forced landing and significant aircraft damage near Rio Verde de Mato Grosso.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2009-08-27 involved a aircraft, registration PTJLN, at RIO VERDE DE MATO GROSSO, MS, BR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

An engine failure during the initial climb phase, compounded by an improper flight maneuver (a low-altitude turn attempting to return to the runway) that resulted in a stall.

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