What happened
On April 9, 2013, a Cessna 210N, registration N6523N, was performing a ferry flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Asunción, Paraguay. The flight path included several stops across the Americas, including Manaus and Sinop. Upon arriving at Sinop Airport (SWSI) in Mato Grosso, the aircraft landed shortly after a period of rainfall had left the runway wet.
Immediately after touchdown, the pilot observed a dog entering the runway area. In an attempt to avoid a collision with the animal, the pilot applied heavy braking. This maneuver caused the aircraft to veer to the right and depart the paved surface. As the aircraft traveled approximately 91 meters across sandy terrain, the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to overturn and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, escaped the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by CENIPA examined the aircraft's condition, the runway environment, and the pilot's actions. The aircraft had recently undergone a major overhaul in the United States to obtain an Export Certificate of Airworthiness and had only 35 flight hours since that maintenance. The pilot held valid FAA licenses and medical certification and was experienced on this specific route, though the ferry flight had involved over 22 hours of flight time over a three-day period.
Investigators inspected the airport's perimeter fencing to identify potential entry points for animals but found no breaches. The investigation also ruled out mechanical failures, as the pilot reported the braking system was fully functional and the aircraft maintained normal ground controllability. Furthermore, the runway drainage was found to be sufficient, meaning there was no evidence of hydroplaning due to standing water.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of control was the abrupt application of brakes to avoid a runway incursion by a dog.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller blades, wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer.
- The aircraft departed the runway and entered sandy terrain, leading to the structural failure of the nose gear and subsequent inversion.
Safety action
To mitigate the risk of animals entering the airfield, the airport operator implemented several measures, including daily inspections of the perimeter fencing, immediate repairs of any identified gaps, periodic maintenance of the boundary fences, and increased coordination with airport safety commissions and public security entities.