What happened
On June 25, 2022, at approximately 14:40 UTC, an EMB-711B Corisco, registration PT-NSA, departed from the Associação Recreativa Fazenda Bonanza aerodrome in Salto de Pirapoli, São Paulo, for a local flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and two passengers.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft struck an electricity pole with its right wingtip near a eucalyptus plantation. The impact caused the aircraft to roll onto its right side and land in a nearly inverted position. Following the collision, the aircraft struck the ground and was consumed by fire. The accident resulted in three fatalities (the pilot and both passengers) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined video footage from the aerodrome, which showed the aircraft performing a normal takeoff profile with flaps partially extended. The footage revealed that the pilot retracted the flaps shortly before retracting the landing gear. Following this retraction, the aircraft began to lose altitude.
The investigation also analyzed the engine, a Continental IO-360-C1C6. While the fire severely damaged the engine components, preventing a definitive determination of a mechanical failure, evidence suggested the engine was operating at low power or had been throttled back just before the impact. Investigators noted straight cuts in the eucalyptus trees along the flight path, which suggested the propeller was still rotating during the subsequent impact with the vegetation.
Regarding weight and balance, investigators estimated the total weight of the occupants at 235 kg. They noted that if the aircraft had been fueled to its maximum capacity of 272 liters, the takeoff weight would have exceeded the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) by 25 kg. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the takeoff runway (Runway 19) was relatively short, and the terrain featured a 55-meter elevation change between the threshold and the impact site.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning regarding the takeoff performance and environmental constraints.
- Premature retraction of flaps, which degraded the aircraft's climb performance and prevented it from clearing obstacles.
- The possibility of the aircraft operating near or exceeding its maximum takeoff weight.
- The presence of variable wind conditions common to the runway due to nearby terrain elevation.