What happened
On May 30, 2013, a Piper PA-22-135, registration PT-BCR, was conducting private pilot flight training at the Resende Aerodrome in Rio de Janeiro. The flight, operated by Aeroclube de Resende, included an instructor and a student performing touch-and-go maneuvers. During the third consecutive landing attempt, while aligned with runway 26, the engine experienced a loss of power. Witnesses observed the engine power fluctuate, initially dropping to idle and then briefly increasing before a subsequent reduction in power.
Due to the low altitude at the time of the power loss, the instructor took control to execute an emergency landing on an unpaved area adjacent to the runway. The aircraft traveled approximately 10 and 100 meters across the terrain before colliding with a protective fence supported by concrete posts. The impact caused the aircraft to spin 180 degrees and come to rest on its back. Both the instructor and the student sustained light injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical condition and fuel quality. Laboratory analysis of fuel samples from both the aircraft and the refueling tank confirmed the fuel was clean, clear, and free of water or solid contaminants. No mechanical defects were identified as the primary cause of the power loss. However, an instructor from the flight club noted that during previous simulated engine failure training, the aircraft had exhibited a delayed engine acceleration and a steep descent rate of approximately 800 feet per minute.
Findings
- The aircraft's engine, fuselage, wings, and nose gear sustained substantial damage.
- The impact with the concrete fence posts caused significant destruction to various engine components.
- Pilot judgment regarding the management of the emergency maneuver at low altitude was a contributing factor.
- The limited space of the chosen landing site and the presence of the concrete-post fence contributed to the severity of the impact.