What happened
On August 26, 2021, at approximately 13:45 UTC, an EMB-810C aircraft, registration PT-EXD, was performing a private flight from Francisco Beltrão to the Mocelin II Aerodrome in Dois Vizinhos, Brazil. The flight had been delayed from the previous day due to weather conditions and reports that the grass runway remained wet.
During the landing roll, the aircraft lost traction on the grass surface. The pilot attempted to retract the flaps after touchdown, believing this would improve braking effectiveness. However, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently, leading to a runway excursion (overrun) at the opposite end of the runway. The aircraft exited the runway, entered a ditch, and collided with an earthen embankment. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but both the pilot and the passenger were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft was operating within weight limits but was outside of its center of gravity (CG) limits. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's maintenance logs were not up to date according to regulatory requirements.
Regarding the pilot, while the commander held valid licenses and a valid medical certificate, the investigation found that the pilot lacked recent experience in this specific aircraft class, as no multi-engine flights had been recorded in the aircraft since his recent proficiency check.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the pilot's decision to retract the flaps during the landing roll. According to the aircraft's operating manual, flaps should only be retracted after the aircraft has cleared the runway, as they provide aerodynamic braking that assists in deceleration.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to retract the flaps during the landing roll contributed to the loss of braking effectiveness.
- The aircraft was operating with an improper center of gravity (CG) balance.
- The grass runway was wet and slippery, reducing available friction.
- The pilot lacked recent operational experience in the multi-engine aircraft class.
- The aircraft's maintenance documentation was not properly updated.