What happened
On 17 July 2007, an Airbus A320, registration PR-MBK, operated by TAM Linhas Aéreas, was performing flight JJ3054 from Porto Alegre to São Paulo/Congonhas. The flight arrived at Congonhas Airport at night-time under adverse weather conditions. The runway 35L was reported to be wet and slippery.
Upon touchdown at 18:54 local time, the aircraft failed to decelerate as expected. The crew noted that the ground spoilers had not deployed. The aircraft veered to the left, overran the left edge of the runway near the departure end, and crossed Washington Luís Avenue. The aircraft subsequently collided with a fuel service station and a cargo service building belonging to the operator. The impact and the resulting intense fire caused the deaths of all 187 persons on board (six crewmembers and 181 passengers) and 12 fatalities on the ground.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the mechanical, human, and environmental factors involved in the accident. The investigation considered two primary hypotheses: a mechanical failure and human error. While the aircraft was operating with the number 2 engine reverser deactivated in accordance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), the investigation focused on why the aircraft failed to slow down.
Investigators analyzed the aircraft's automation logic, specifically noting that the deployment of ground spoilers is dependent on the thrust levers being positioned at IDLE to prevent accidental deployment during flight. The investigation also reviewed the organizational aspects of the operator and the airport infrastructure, including the runway conditions and the availability of safety areas.