What happened
On September 1, 2022, at approximately 18:00 UTC, a Storm 300B aircraft, registration PU-MMM, departed from Aeródromo El Dorado (SSMK) in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, for a private local flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
Footage from a camera mounted on the aircraft's vertical stabilizer captured the sequence of events. Four seconds after liftoff, the aircraft entered a left turn with a bank angle of approximately 42 degrees. By twelve seconds into the flight, the bank angle had increased to 70 degrees, with the nose pitching downward. At thirteen seconds, the aircraft reached a bank angle of roughly 90 degrees and lost altitude. Fourteen seconds after takeoff, the aircraft collided with a flooded rice field. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, resulting in the death of the pilot and serious injuries to the passenger.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed several regulatory and documentation irregularities. The pilot's single-engine land (MNTE) rating was expired at the time of the accident, meaning the pilot was not qualified to operate the aircraft. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate, the aircraft's flight authorization (CAV) was invalid because the required airworthiness certificate (CVA) was not in effect.
Furthermore, essential maintenance records, including the engine, propeller, and airframe logs, were not found. The investigation could not confirm if the aircraft was operating within its proper weight and balance limits. Regarding the aircraft's mechanical state, no evidence of engine failure or malfunction of other components was identified. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported to be well above the minimums required for flight.
Findings
Analysis of the flight path suggests that the aircraft may have entered a stall or pre-stall condition at a low altitude. Because the aircraft was performing a steep turn, the vertical component of lift was reduced, requiring a higher angle of attack to maintain level flight. The investigation noted that the pilot's application of controls contributed to the accident. Additionally, the pilot's judgment and decision-making processes were identified as contributing factors, potentially influenced by the pressure to capture high-quality footage for a commercial audiovisual production.