What happened
On October 24, 2017, at approximately 12:30 UTC, a Cessna A188B, registration PR-RBA, departed from a runway at Fazenda Ipanema in Altamira, Pará, to perform agricultural spraying services. During the flight, ground observers noted that after the pilot executed a turn, the aircraft attempted to recover its course but subsequently lost lift. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled spin and fell vertically into a wooded area approximately 8km from the takeoff site. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the aircraft was operating in an unairworthy condition. The Certificate of Airworthiness had been canceled since August 2015, and the Annual Maintenance Inspection had been expired since December 2011. No documentation regarding maintenance performed after December 2010 was available for review. Furthermore, the operator, Tosin Aero Agricola Ltda., was no longer authorized to perform agricultural services, as its authorization had expired in January 2012. Investigators also noted that the owner/operator failed to respond to multiple requests for documentation regarding the aircraft and the pilot.
Findings
- The pilot held valid commercial licenses, including single-engine land and agricultural pilot ratings, and possessed a valid medical certificate.
- The pilot had previous experience in this type of flight operation.
- The aircraft was operating with a canceled Certificate of Airworthiness.
- The aircraft's annual maintenance inspection was significantly overdue.
- The operator was performing agricultural services without valid authorization.
- The investigation was interrupted because the operation was in violation of existing aeronautical legislation, rendering further safety recommendations ineffective without strict regulatory compliance.