What happened
On July 19, 2020, a RANS S-6ES aircraft, registered as PU-GUT, was performing a private flight from an unregistered airfield in São Miguel do Guaporé, Rondônia, toward Rolim de Moura, Rondônia. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the flight, the engine experienced a malfunction. This failure forced the pilot to perform an emergency landing in an open field near the municipality of Migrantinópolis. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact, both occupants emerged from the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed significant regulatory non-compliance regarding both the pilot and the aircraft's airworthiness. The individual operating the aircraft did not possess a valid pilot license or any aeronautical qualification, nor did they hold a valid Medical Certificate (CMA).
Regarding the aircraft's status, the PU-GUT was registered under the Experimental Private (PET) category, but its Experimental Flight Authorization Certificate (CAVE) had expired. The investigation found that the operator had failed to provide a valid Annual Maintenance Inspection Report (RIAM). The last maintenance report presented was dated March 30, 2015, meaning the documentation was over three years out of date. Consequently, the operator could not prove that the aircraft was being maintained according to manufacturer specifications or applicable Brazilian aviation regulations, a factor that may have contributed to the engine failure.
Findings
- The engine failed during flight, necessitating the emergency landing.
- The pilot lacked the required pilot license and medical certification.
- The aircraft's experimental flight authorization (CAVE) was expired.
- Lack of adherence to established civil aviation regulations served as a contributing factor to the accident.