What happened
On November 7, 2021, at approximately 19:07 UTC, an experimental Adventure trike, registration PU-CMO, was performing touch-and-go maneuvers at the Campos de Melo Aerodrome in São José do Mipibu, Brazil. The flight, which began at Aeródromo Severino Lopes, carried a pilot and one passenger.
During a maneuver following a takeoff from runway 12, the aircraft entered an extreme nose-up attitude with a sharp right wing dip. The right wing struck a masonry boundary wall separating the airfield from a dirt road, causing the aircraft to impact the ground and slide approximately seven meters. The aircraft then struck a brick house under construction, which triggered a post-crash fire that destroyed the airframe. The two fatalities involved were the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's flight controls and found that the original manufacturer-provided control lock mechanism—which used an elastic and rubber spheres—had been replaced by a non-original mechanism consisting of plates, bolts, and a pin. This modification was installed by the owner to secure the control bar when the aircraft was parked.
Evidence indicated that the pilot had previously reported issues regarding the flight controls jamming due to this newly installed mechanism. Investigators noted that the modification could cause the control bar to contact the limiting tube during certain flight envelopes, potentially leading to an inadvertent lock.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot was operating from the rear seat, while the passenger occupied the front seat. This arrangement contradicted the manufacturer's operating manual, which specifies the pilot in command should occupy the front seat. The aircraft was not configured for instructional flight, and the pilot lacked the required flight instructor rating (ICPA).
Findings
- The aircraft was equipped with a non-original control lock mechanism that had been previously reported to cause jamming issues.
- The pilot was operating from the rear seat, contrary to the manufacturer's seating requirements.
- The pilot lacked the specific flight instructor qualification required for the type of flight being conducted.
- The aircraft was operating within weight limits and under favorable meteorological conditions.