What happened
On June 6, 2019, a private flight involving an Ultraleger Fascination, registration PU-FNA, was underway from Campo Mourão, PR, to Cruz Alta, RS. The flight was being conducted as a repositioning mission following the pilot's recent purchase of the aircraft.
While climbing through FL050, the aircraft's propeller underwent structural fragmentation. The sudden loss of engine thrust forced the pilot to execute an emergency landing in a cornfield near Sitio Boa Sorte, Campo Mour . The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the propeller failure and the maintenance history of the aircraft. The investigation revealed that the propeller was an amateur-built component that had been recently installed. Crucially, this replacement was performed without the oversight or notification of a Responsible Engineer, which is a requirement under existing supplementary instructions for amateur-built aircraft.
Furthermore, the investigation found that while the pilot held valid medical and pilot certifications, they lacked specific experience with this aircraft model. Regarding maintenance, the pilot could not provide maintenance records for the airframe, engine, or propeller, nor could they produce the Annual Maintenance Inspection report, despite stating that the inspection had been completed.
Findings
- The propeller was an amateur-built part that had been recently replaced without the involvement of a Responsible Engineer.
- There was a lack of traceability regarding maintenance, as no records for the engine, propeller, or airframe were presented.
- The pilot lacked previous experience flying this specific aircraft model.
- The replacement of the propeller without professional engineering oversight contributed to the structural failure of the component.