What happened
On February 25, 2013, a Piper PA-36-375, registration PR-AEB, was performing an agricultural operation involving solid fertilization in a sugarcane plantation. The aircraft took off from an improvised airstrip located at Fazenda Valderes, in the municipality of Engenheiro Beltrão, Paraná.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a loss of engine power. This loss of thrust caused the aircraft to lose altitude, leading to a collision with the sugarcane crop at the end of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, though the pilot escaped the accident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed significant discrepancies regarding the aircraft's maintenance records and component installations. During the initial inspection, investigators found a magneto (P/N D8LN-2000, S/N 34174) installed on the engine that had no corresponding installation record in the aircraft's logs. Conversely, the engine logbook recorded the installation of a different magneto (P/N D8LN-3200, S/N G05AA044R), which was actually incompatible with the installed IO-720-D1CD engine according to the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS).
Further examination of the engine during disassembly revealed that the magneto originally identified during the initial inspection had been replaced by the incompatible P/N D8LN-3200 model. Additionally, investigators found conflicting data regarding the overhaul dates of this component and discrepancies in the aircraft's total airframe hours between the last 1,000-hour inspection records and the aircraft logbook.
Findings
- Inadequate maintenance oversight and management supervision.
- Deficiencies in aircraft maintenance practices.
- Maintenance records, including engine, propeller, and airframe logs, were not up to date.
- Discrepancies in the tracking of component overhaul intervals and airframe flight hours.