What happened
On April 21, 2016, a Beechcraft 300, registration PT-MCM, was performing a passenger transport flight from Rio de Janeiro (SBRJ) to Terravista Aerodrome (SBTV) in Bahia, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and nine passengers.
During the landing phase on runway 15, the aircraft encountered a sudden loss of lift. The pilot continued the approach, but the aircraft struck the ground abruptly on irregular terrain approximately two and a half meters before the runway threshold. The impact caused the left main landing gear to collapse. As the aircraft continued its rollout, the left propeller blades struck the ground, and the aircraft veered to the left, eventually coming to a stop at the intersection leading to the secondary apron. All ten occupants escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events during the final approach and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, noting that while the weather was generally favorable for VFR flight, convective clouds were present in the area. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, finding that the Beechcraft 300 was within weight and balance limits and had a valid airworthiness certificate.
Investigators analyzed the possibility of windshear, a phenomenon characterized by sudden changes in wind velocity or direction. Although the aircraft was not equipped with an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) to alert the crew to such conditions, the investigation looked at whether the pilot's response to the observed loss of lift was appropriate.
Findings
- The pilot's failure to execute a go-around after experiencing a significant increase in descent rate and loss of lift contributed to the accident.
- The risks associated with potential windshear during the final approach were not adequately assessed or managed.
- The aircraft may have been subjected to windshear or a downdraft, which destabilized the approach.
- Ineffective control inputs during the final approach prevented the crew from avoiding the hard impact with the ground.