What happened
On March 29, 2009, an Aero Boero AB-115, registration PP-GHG, was conducting a local flight instruction mission departing from the Londrina Aerodrome (SBLO) in Paraná, Brazil. The aircraft was occupied by an instructor and a student pilot. During the execution of a simulated engine failure maneuver, the aircraft lost lift and entered a stall. The subsequent loss of control led the aircraft to strike low-voltage power lines and a utility pole before impacting two houses and coming to rest on the garage of a third residence in the Jardim Dom Vicente neighborhood.
Despite the significant impact, both the instructor and the student pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured. The aircraft sustained severe damage to the propeller, engine, fuselage, landing gear, and wings.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational conditions and the aircraft's weight and balance. Investigators found that the aircraft had been fueled with 115 liters of Avgas the previous day for a different mission that had been canceled due to weather, and this fuel load was not drained before the training flight.
Analysis of the aircraft's weight revealed that the takeoff weight was 788.7 kg, which exceeded the maximum allowable takeoff weight of 770 kg for standard operations at sea level. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the aircraft's manual lacked performance charts for consultation regarding the influence of temperature, altitude, and fuel density on performance.
Findings
- Overweight takeoff: The aircraft was operated above its maximum permitted takeoff weight.
- Improper flight planning: The takeoff was delayed by 35 minutes, leading to a rushed departure where previous student performance records were not reviewed.
- Inadequate training area: The simulated engine failure maneuver was performed over an urban area rather than the intended runway environment (such as Sertanópolis) typically used for such training.
- Operational deficiencies: There was a lack of proper weight and balance calculations and insufficient oversight regarding the standardization of flight instruction.
- Ergonomic limitations: The instructor experienced difficulty fully operating the flap lever due to the aircraft's cockpit ergonomics.