What happened
On October 6, 2021, a Cessna A150M, registration PT-KLG, was conducting a local instructional flight at Jacarepaguá – Roberto Marinho – Aerodrome (SBJR) in Rio de Janeiro. The aircraft was occupied by two pilots: a flight instructor and a trainee pilot.
During the takeoff phase, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. In response to the malfunction, the crew decided to perform a reversal turn to land on the opposite end of the runway. During the landing phase, the crew realized the aircraft would not stop within the runway limits and attempted to execute a go-around. However, due to the lack of engine power, the maneuver was unsuccessful. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold, lost control, and eventually came to rest in a nearby mangrove area, approximately 300 meters beyond the runway limits. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including dents to the wingtips, propeller damage, and landing gear damage, but both pilots were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the mechanical state of the powerplant and the operational decisions made by the crew. Technical tests on the engine revealed that cylinder number one had poorly seated intake and exhaust valves, leading to compression leakage and a significant reduction in engine efficiency. Furthermore, the investigation examined the aircraft's weight and balance, finding that the aircraft was operating outside of its established limits.
The committee also reviewed the organizational practices of the flight school, noting that the aircraft's airframe, engine, and propeller logbooks were out of date. The investigation scrutinized the instructor's decision-making, specifically the choice to return to the aerodrome at an altitude of only 200 to 300 feet, which contradicted the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) recommendations.