Cessna C 185 PT-LCI Accident in Santa Maria, MS (PTLCI)

Overview and Classification On 19 March 2010, a Cessna C 185 aircraft registered PT-LCI was involved in an accident classified as a dry engine failure (pane seca). The incident occurred in the vicinity of Estância Santa Maria, MS, with coordinates 20°30’45”S – 054°32’11”W, in the municipality of Campo Grande, MS. The operator was listed as private. ## Flight History and Impact The aircraft departed Fazenda Esmeralda, Corumbá, MS (SSDH), at 18:00 UTC, bound for Santa Maria, MS (SSKG), carrying one pilot and one passenger. Approximately one minute before landing, during the final approach, the engine stopped suddenly. The pilot executed a forced landing 1,000 meters before the runway threshold. The aircraft struck the ground abruptly at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to the terrain. After the initial impact, the aircraft rotated 60 degrees to the left and traveled 13 meters before coming to a complete stop. ## Damage and Injuries The pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft suffered severe damage to the fuselage, engine, and propeller, and light damage to the wings, elevator, and horizontal stabilizer. The landing gear was declared irrecoverable. The right landing gear remained attached to the fuselage, while the left gear was torn off near the impact point. The propeller exhibited minimal torsion damage, indicating the engine was stopped and the propeller was windmilling at the time of impact. ## Personnel and Aircraft Information The pilot held a valid Private Pilot License (PPR) with valid ratings for multi-engine land (MLTE) and single-engine land (MNTE) aircraft, as well as a valid medical certificate. The pilot reported 4,600 total flight hours, including 300 hours in this type of aircraft. The aircraft, serial number 1850453, was manufactured by Cessna Aircraft in 1962. Its airworthiness certificate was valid, though the airframe, engine, and propeller logbooks were noted as outdated. The last inspection, an IAM type, was performed on 11 September 2009 by HORA in Campo Grande, MS, at 5,821.8 total hours; the aircraft had flown 2.7 hours since that inspection. ## Environmental and Operational Factors Meteorological conditions were favorable for visual flight. No flight recorders were required or installed. The accident occurred outside the aerodrome. No accredited representative was designated for the investigation.