What happened
On April 21, 2020, at approximately 17:55 UTC, a Bravo 700 aircraft, registration PU-DGH, was performing a private flight from São Mateus to Colatina, Brazil. About twenty minutes into the flight, while flying at a low altitude over a coffee plantation in the rural area of Jaguaré, Espírito Santo, the aircraft entered a turn at low speed. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control, causing the aircraft to collide with the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries, while the passenger suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot was not legally qualified to operate the aircraft at the time of the accident. Although certain regulatory transition rules allowed for expired flight ratings to be valid for up to one year, the pilot's Medical Certificate (CMA) had been expired since January 2019. Additionally, the pilot's Advanced Ultralight (UATE) rating had expired in July 2019.
The investigation examined the flight dynamics and concluded that the loss of control was likely caused by an aerodynamic stall. The pilot's decision to perform low-altitude maneuvers at low speeds, combined with the aircraft's attitude during the turn, made recovery impossible due to the insufficient height above the terrain. The investigators also noted that the aircraft owner failed to provide the maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller to the investigating officer.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate and an expired flight rating.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits and held a valid experimental flight authorization.
- The meteorological conditions were suitable for flight.
- The loss of control was likely caused by an aerodynamic stall during a low-altitude, low-speed turn.
- The pilot's attitude and flight maneuvers contributed to the accident.