What happened
On September 7, 2020, a Gulfstream 200, registration PR-AUR, was conducting a local instrument training flight consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers at Pampulha Aerodrome (SBBH) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Following touchdown on runway 13, the crew attempted to initiate a subsequent takeoff run but subsequently decided to abort the maneuver.
The decision to abort the takeoff occurred after the aircraft had reached an indicated speed of 147 knots, which was significantly above the established decision speed of 112 knots. Due to the late application of braking and thrust reverser deployment, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway distance. The aircraft overran the departure end of the runway and collided with a protective fence, coming to a stop approximately 95 meters beyond the runway limits. The impact caused the landing gear struts to collapse and resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's underside. The pilot in command sustained minor injuries, while the second in command and an additional crew member were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the unstabilized approach and the subsequent runway excursion. Investigators examined the flight data and cockpit voice recordings, which revealed that the final approach was unstabilized, characterized by a high rate of descent and improper speed management. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's trim configuration, noting that after touchdown, the aircraft was trimmed in a nose-down position rather than nose-up.
Furthermore, the investigation analyzed the crew's performance during the critical transition from landing to the aborted takeoff. The committee found that the crew's coordination was insufficient, with a lack of clear communication regarding task assignment and control of the aircraft during the high-workload period following touchdown.
Findings
- The crew was performing touch-and-go training maneuvers for the first time in this specific aircraft type.
- The final approach was unstabilized, with the aircraft exceeding prescribed descent rates and speed parameters.
- The aircraft was trimmed in a nose-down configuration after touchdown.
- The decision to abort the takeoff was made at an airspeed exceeding the decision speed, without sufficient remaining runway to ensure a safe stop.
- There was a lack of clear communication and task definition between the pilots during the aborted takeoff attempt.
- Inadequate flight planning contributed to the unstable approach, as insufficient time was allocated for the crew to prepare for the descent procedure.