What happened
On May 10, 2017, an Embraer EMB-721D, registration PT-RKE, operated by Stilus Táxi Aéreo Ltda., departed from the Maca Aero Aerodrome in Tailândia, Pará, bound for Fazenda Serra Grande. The flight was carrying a pilot and three passengers.
Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, while over Goianésia do Pará, the pilot reported a slight engine vibration and a minor fluctuation in the fuel flow indicator. Although the pilot performed a fuel tank switch, the vibration persisted. The pilot subsequently decided to land at an unregistered strip located in Goianésia do Pará, which was visible on the aircraft's GPS but not registered with the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
During the landing attempt on the narrow, unregistered runway, the aircraft's right wing made contact with surrounding vegetation. This caused a loss of control on the ground, leading the aircraft to veer off the right edge of the strip and collide with vegetation, which resulted in the breakage of the landing gear. All four occupants escaped the accident without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine, a Textron Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D, and found no mechanical abnormalities, premature wear, or defects in the moving or fixed parts. All components were found to be within manufacturer specifications and compliant with applicable service bulletins. The fuel flow divider was also tested and found to be in proper working order.
The investigation noted that the landing site had been modified prior to the investigators' arrival; a tractor had been used to clear vegetation to widen the strip, which obscured tracks left by the aircraft. Investigators also identified a regional culture of using unregistered strips to meet passenger demands, noting that the passengers had a scheduled event in the city where the landing occurred.
Findings
- Inadequate decision-making regarding the use of an unregistered and narrow runway.
- Improper flight judgment and assessment of operational risks.
- A regional aviation culture that frequently utilizes unregistered landing sites.
- The presence of an unregistered runway in the aircraft's GPS database, which may have contributed to a lack of proper hazard identification.
Safety action
Following the investigation, it was recommended that ANAC work with the operator to verify the adequacy of their Safety Management System (SMS), specifically regarding organizational processes and managerial supervision. Additionally, recommendations were made to promote safety awareness among executive pilots in the Amazon region to improve risk perception regarding unregistered aerodromes.