What happened
On February 8, 2009, an EMB-720C, registration PT-RDE, was performing a scenic flight from Avaré, São Paulo, to a private landing field at Fazenda Boa Vista in Fartura, São Paulo. The aircraft landed on a grass runway that was wet due to recent rainfall. During the landing roll, the pilot realized the aircraft would not stop within the runway limits. In an attempt to prevent an overshoot, the pilot executed a sharp right-hand turn, a maneuver known locally as a "cavalo de pau." This caused the aircraft to lose control, veer off the runway, and slide across the grass before coming to a stop on a rural road located below the landing field. The pilot escaped the wreckage without injury, but the aircraft sustained severe damage to the fuselage, left wing, landing gear, engine, and propeller.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed several critical irregularities regarding the aircraft's airworthiness and the flight's preparation. The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness was suspended due to an expired Annual Maintenance Inspection and irregular insurance status. Furthermore, the aircraft was flying without its center and rear seats, as they had been removed for upholstery work. The investigation also noted that the pilot was navigating primarily via GPS, as he was unfamiliar with the destination and lacked proper aeronautical charts (WAC) on board. The landing field itself was uncertified and lacked essential equipment like a windsock.
Findings
- The pilot's improper application of controls during the landing roll, specifically attempting to steer the aircraft from the edge of a narrow, wet, and short runway, led to the loss of control.
- The pilot demonstrated poor judgment by attempting to land on a slippery, restricted runway while the aircraft was in a modified configuration (missing seats).
- Inadequate flight planning was evident due to the lack of navigational charts and heavy reliance on GPS.
- The pilot exhibited complacency by accepting a flight in an aircraft with expired maintenance inspections and suspended airworthiness.
- Potential pilot fatigue may have contributed to the error, as the pilot had traveled over 500 kilometers by bus the previous night.