What happened
On March 19, 2013, a Neiva 56-C-1, registration PP-HRF, was conducting a local flight instruction mission departing from the Eldorado do Sul Aerodrome (SIXE) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The aircraft was operated by Aeroclube de Eldorado do Sul with an instructor and a student pilot on board.
During a touch-and-go training maneuver, approximately one hour and 35 minutes into the flight, the aircraft was on final approach when it departed from the runway environment. The aircraft landed in a rice field located roughly 100 meters from the threshold of the active runway. The impact caused damage to the engine, propeller, and landing gear. Both occupants of the aircraft escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records and flight parameters. While the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and was within weight and balance limits, investigators noted that the most recent 50-hour inspection had not been recorded in the airframe, engine, or propeller logbooks at the time of the accident. The operator later provided a service order confirming that the inspection had indeed been performed.
An inspection of the engine following the accident revealed no mechanical abnormalities. However, the investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the approach phase.