What happened
On March 21, 2019, a Piper PA-31T, registration PT-LNG, was performing a repositioning flight from Aeródromo Senador Petrônio Portella (SBTE) to Aeródromo João Silva (SJBY) in Santa Inês, Maranhão. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the landing roll at SJBY, the aircraft's nose gear collided with a dog on the runway. The impact caused the nose gear to retract, leading the propellers to strike the ground approximately 320 meters after the initial impact. The aircraft continued to slide for another 435 meters before coming to a complete stop. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically to the propellers, nose gear, and its locking mechanisms. Both occupants of the aircraft were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed, rated for multi-engine land and instrument flight, and held a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was also found to be airworthy, with all maintenance logs up to date and operating within weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for flight.
The investigation focused on the airfield environment at SJBY. Investigators found that while the airfield's perimeter fence was designed to keep out large animals, the spacing between the wires was wide enough to allow small fauna to enter. Additionally, high vegetation along the runway margins was noted, which could provide food sources and shelter for animals, potentially obscuring the visibility of wildlife during the final approach. The investigation also identified a pedestrian path that allowed unauthorized access to the runway area, and a pedestrian was observed near the runway during the initial investigation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with a dog on the runway.
- Inadequate physical barriers at the airfield allowed small animals to access the operational area.
- Deficiencies in airfield surveillance and lack of effective perimeter control contributed to the presence of fauna.
- High vegetation near the runway margins may have hindered the pilot's ability to detect animals during approach.
- A lack of a formal safety reporting culture was noted, as the pilot had previously observed animals on the runway but no formal reports had been made to the airfield operator.