What happened
On May 29, 2015, a Piper PA-34-220T operated by Badiva Empreendimentos e Particip. Ltda. was performing a private passenger transport flight from Carlos Prates (SBPR) to Viçosa (SNVC), Minas Gerais. The flight crew, consisting of two pilots, and one passenger were on board when the aircraft performed a landing on runway 17.
During the approach, the aircraft encountered a tailwind, as indicated by the windsock. The pilot reported that the aircraft touched down approximately halfway down the 900-meter runway, leaving only about 450 meters of remaining runway length. Due to the high touchdown point and the lack of sufficient stopping distance, the aircraft overran the runway end by approximately 50 meters. Upon exiting the paved surface, the right landing gear struck an uncovered drainage ditch located in the runway safety area. The impact caused the right landing gear to collapse and resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, aileron, flap, engine, and propeller.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilots failed to extend the flaps during the landing configuration. Flight records indicated that the pilot in command had approximately 200 total flight hours, with only 45 hours in the Piper PA-34-220T, while the second pilot had 173 total hours and 28 hours in the model.
Calculations based on the aircraft's performance manual—considering a weight of 4,300kg, a temperature of 25°C, and a 5kt tailwind—showed that even with 40° flaps, a landing distance of approximately 535 meters would have been required. Because the aircraft touched down with flaps retracted, the required stopping distance was significantly higher due to increased approach speed and reduced braking effectiveness.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the aerodrome infrastructure managed by the Federal University of Viçosa. It was found that the drainage ditch was not covered with a grate, violating safety standards regarding the maintenance of runway safety areas and the monitoring of aerodrome physical conditions.
Findings
- The pilots failed to deploy the flaps during the landing phase.
- The limited experience of the flight crew contributed to the failure to recognize the altered approach characteristics caused by the retracted flaps.
- The aircraft touched down with insufficient remaining runway to safely stop.
- An uncovered drainage ditch in the runway safety area caused the landing gear collapse and subsequent structural damage.
- The aerodrome failed to maintain the runway safety area in compliance with safety regulations (RBAC 154 and RBAC 153).