What happened
On April 15, 2014, a CAP-4 aircraft, registration PP-GUJ, was performing a local training flight departing from the Rio Grande Aerodrome (SJRG) in Rio Grande, Brazil. During the flight, after completing a third touch-and-go maneuver on runway 06, the pilot climbed to 1,300 feet. While banking to the left, the pilot heard abnormal noises coming from the engine. Shortly after overflying the runway, the engine ceased operation.
Unable to return to the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing on a small dirt road located within the premises of the Companhia Riograndense de Saneamento (CORSAN), near the aerodrome. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engine, but the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the mechanical state of the engine and the maintenance records of the aircraft. Investigators analyzed the flight sequence following the third touch-and-go and inspected the engine components to determine the cause of the power loss. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's airworthiness documentation.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by a fracture in a small gear within the engine assembly.
- This fracture resulted from an overload caused by the introduction of foreign object debris (FOD) into the gear set.
- Maintenance records for the airframe, engine, and propeller were found to be outdated, as periodic maintenance services were not being properly documented.
- The pilot held a valid medical certificate and technical rating, and the aircraft held a valid certificate of airworthiness.