What happened
On May 9, 2019, a Beechcraft 35, registration PT-DJC, was performing a solo private flight when the pilot experienced a drop in engine oil pressure. In response to the mechanical issue, the pilot performed a forced landing near Highway BR-1SB in the municipality of Paranaíba, Mato Grosso do Sul. Local reports indicated that during the landing sequence, the aircraft veered from the roadway and collided with roadside vegetation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot emerged from the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators were notified of the occurrence via the Federal Highway Police (PRF). The investigation focused on the airworthiness of the aircraft and the pilot's credentials. Investigators were unable to verify the pilot's flight experience or determine if the aircraft was within weight and balance limits, as the aircraft's logbooks for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not presented. Furthermore, the investigation noted significant discrepancies regarding the aircraft's legal status and maintenance history.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate (CMA), which had lapsed in April 2019.
- The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness (CA) had been canceled since January 1996.
- The Annual Maintenance Inspection (IAM) was significantly overdue, having expired in August 1992.
- The engine oil pressure drop was the primary driver for the forced landing.