What happened
On March 15, 2015, a Cessna 182 was conducting sightseeing flights at an uncertified landing strip in the village of Lagoa do Cruz, located in Princesa Isabel, Paraíba. The aircraft was being used for commercial purposes, transporting passengers for panoramic tours.
During the landing sequence, after the aircraft made contact with the ground, the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft subsequently collided with bushes and an elevation in the terrain, resulting in a nose-over (pilonamento). The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft. Of the four people on board, the pilot and one passenger were uninjured, while the remaining two passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed several critical regulatory non-compliances regarding both the aircraft and the pilot's credentials. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating with an expired annual maintenance inspection, which had been overdue since 2008. Furthermore, the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had been canceled.
Regarding the pilot, while the medical certificate was valid, the pilot's technical rating for single-engine land airplanes had been expired since February 1978. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's nationality and registration markings did not comply with the specifications required by RBAC 45.25. Additionally, the landing strip used for the operation was not a certified or homologated facility.
Findings
- The loss of directional control following touchdown led to the collision with terrain and vegetation.
- The aircraft was operating with a canceled Certificate of Airworthiness and an annual maintenance inspection that had been expired for seven years.
- The pilot was operating with an expired technical rating.
- The operation was being conducted on an uncertified, non-homologated airstrip.
- The aircraft's registration markings were not in accordance with regulatory standards.