What happened
On September 23, 2020, at approximately 17:55 UTC, an EMB-710C aircraft, registration PT-NDL, departed from Aeródromo Vale do Curuá in Novo Progresso, Pará, bound for Itaituba, Pará. The flight was a private transport operation carrying a pilot and one passenger.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced an engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a nearby pasture, but during the maneuver, the aircraft collided with cattle. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Despite the severity of the crash, both occupants survived without injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators learned of the accident via social media approximately 24 hours after the occurrence. Upon arrival, it was noted that the aircraft had been removed from the site without authorization from the investigation authority.
Investigators were unable to examine the aircraft's maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, or propeller, as these documents were reportedly destroyed in the fire. However, records from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) revealed that the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition; its Airworthiness Certificate (CA) had been expired since December 2012, and its Airworthiness Verification Certificate (CVA) had been expired since March 1999.
While the pilot held a valid medical certificate and appropriate single-engine land ratings, the investigation noted that this was the pilot's first time acting as Pilot in Command of this specific aircraft model.
Findings
- Engine failure following takeoff.
- The aircraft was operating with expired airworthiness documentation, placing it in a non-airworthy state.
- The pilot was operating the specific aircraft model for the first time.
- Maintenance of the aircraft could not be determined due to the loss of records in the fire.
- The collision with livestock during the landing attempt contributed to the destruction of the airframe.