What happened
On October 1, 2017, a Maul M-6-235, registration PT-WLE, departed from Formosa Aerodrome (SWFR) in Goiás, Brazil, bound for Barra do Garça, Mato Grosso. The flight, carrying a pilot and one passenger, was intended for personnel transport. Following a transponder malfunction in mode "C," the pilot decided to return to the origin aerodrome to perform a series of touch-and-go landings to verify the equipment.
After completing four successful touch-and-goes, the aircraft experienced a loss of control during the fifth landing attempt. The aircraft veered off the left side of the runway, rotating approximately 120 degrees to the right. The excursion resulted in the aircraft striking an uncovered drainage ditch located about 20 to 25 meters from the runway edge, narrowly avoiding a medium-sized tree. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but both occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process, the aircraft's handling characteristics, and the aerodrome's infrastructure. Investigators noted that the pilot, while properly licensed, had only nine hours and thirty minutes of flight time in this specific aircraft type. The investigation also assessed the environmental conditions, noting a 15-knot crosswind from 140 degrees at the time of the accident.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the aerodrome's maintenance, finding that the vegetation in the surrounding area was overgrown and that the maintenance of the terrain near the runway was inadequate. The investigation also looked into the relationship between the transponder failure and the decision to perform touch-and-go landings, finding no established correlation or maintenance justification for such a procedure.