What happened
On March 19, 2010, a Beechcraft E55, registration PT-JTM, operated by the Government of the State of Roraima, was conducting a passenger transport flight. The flight was originally planned from Boa Vista to Serra do Sol, but the pilot decided to perform a low pass over the Uiramutã airstrip to check runway conditions.
Upon attempting to land on runway 30, the aircraft was struck by a strong tailwind gust. To compensate for the loss of lift, the pilot applied engine power, which resulted in a long landing past the midpoint of the runway. With only 300 meters of runway remaining and a depression in the terrain visible at the end of the strip, the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft off the right side of the runway to avoid the drop-off. The aircraft subsequently collided with obstacles, including bushes, causing heavy damage to the nose landing gear, fuselage, and wing edges.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the Uiramutã airstrip was neither registered nor homologated, meaning it lacked essential safety equipment such as a windsock. The investigation found that while the pilot was experienced and the aircraft was within weight and balance limits, the pilot made critical errors in judgment by attempting a landing with a known tailwind and failing to execute a go-around when the landing became unstable.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's technical documentation was outdated, as it had exceeded its 100-hour inspection interval by five and a half hours. The investigation also noted that the operator's management oversight was inadequate, as the flight planning allowed for operations at an uncertified airstrip.
Findings
- Adverse meteorological conditions: Strong surface winds and gusts in the region contributed to the loss of lift during the landing.
- Inadequate pilot judgment: The pilot chose to land on a runway with a significant tailwind and failed to initiate a go-around after the long landing.
- Flight planning and supervision: The flight was planned for an unregistered airstrip, and the operator's management failed to consider the safety risks of using non-homologated landing sites.
- Maintenance non-compliance: The aircraft had exceeded its scheduled 100-hour inspection interval.