What happened
On September 30, 2017, a Cessna 210L, registration PT-KAM, performed a forced landing on the banks of the Tapajós River near the Nazaré community in Belterra, Pará. The aircraft was returning from a mining site near Alenquer when the incident occurred. There were three people on board at the time of the landing. While one occupant emerged uninjured, the exact injury status of the other two occupants could not be determined.
The investigation
The investigation by SERIPA I faced significant obstacles. Local police arrived at the scene on October 1, 2017, only to find that the aircraft had already been moved and was being dismantled, including the removal of the engine, wings, and empennage. This movement was conducted without authorization from the SIPAER investigation authority.
Furthermore, the occurrence was not reported to the aeronautical investigation authorities by the crew; investigators only became aware of the event through social media on October 3, 2017. The pilot, identified only by a nickname, fled the scene, and the individual identified by local police as the co-pilot provided conflicting information to federal authorities, claiming to be a cook rather than a crew member. Due to the lack of cooperation from those involved and the alteration of the accident site, a reliable determination of the contributing factors was impossible.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with a single-engine land (MNTE) rating that had been expired since November 2005.
- The crew member identified as the co-pilot held an air medical certificate (CMA) that had been expired since July 2013.
- The aircraft's airworthiness certificate (CA) was valid at the time of the occurrence.
- Maintenance records, including logbooks for the airframe, engine, and propeller, were not presented for inspection.
- The unauthorized removal and dismantling of the aircraft prevented a conclusive determination of the accident's cause.