What happened
On February 22, 2015, a Cirrus SR22, registration PR-FLF, was performing a takeoff roll at Costa Esmeralda Aerodrome (SDEN) in Porto Belo, Santa Catarina, destined for Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft was operating a private transport flight with a pilot and three passengers on board. During the takeoff run, the aircraft veered to the left and exited the runway, eventually coming to a stop only after colliding with a wall. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, though all four occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the braking system and maintenance history of the aircraft. The pilot attempted to use the right brake to correct the deviation, but the brake proved ineffective. Records indicated that two days prior to the accident, the pilot had reported to a mechanic that the right brake felt lower than the left; the mechanic subsequently replenished the brake fluid and bled the system. However, no formal records of this corrective maintenance were found in the aircraft's logbooks.
Technical inspections revealed that both temperature indicators for the right brake assembly had been activated (darkened), signaling a previous superheating event. Such overheating can lead to brake fluid leaks and the contamination of brake pads and discs, significantly reducing braking efficiency. While the pilot performed a pre-flight inspection, the investigation determined that the overheating indicators on the right wheel were not identified. It was also noted that the mechanic may have failed to observe these indicators during the recent maintenance work.
Findings
- The pilot failed to notice the activated overheating indicators during the pre-flight inspection.
- The right brake system was ineffective due to potential contamination or fluid issues resulting from a previous overheating event.
- There was a lack of formal documentation regarding the corrective maintenance performed two days before the accident.