What happened
On September 29, 2019, a Bearhawk amphibious aircraft, registered as PR-ZJO, was performing a private flight from an uncertified area in Santarém, Pará, toward the Apuకి Aerodrome in Apuí, Amazonas. During the approach to the runway, the pilot initiated a turn when the engine suffered a sudden loss of power.
Following the engine failure, the pilot attempted to perform an emergency landing on a nearby lagoon. The maneuver was unsuccessful, and the aircraft struck a sandbar within a private property. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, though the pilot sustained only minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by SERIPA VII examined the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's operational status. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate and a valid single-engine land (MNTE) license, investigators determined that the pilot lacked the specific class rating required for single-engine float or amphibious operations under Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC 61). Although the pilot had experience operating amphibious aircraft, the legal requirement for a specific class rating had not been met.
Furthermore, the investigation was limited by a lack of documentation. The operator did not provide the aircraft's maintenance logs or flight logs, nor did the pilot present his personal flight logbook. This prevented a thorough assessment of the aircraft's maintenance history and the pilot's specific flight experience. The aircraft itself was an experimental amateur-built model with a valid Experimental Flight Authorization Certificate (CAVE).
Findings
- The engine experienced a power loss during flight.
- The pilot lacked the required amphibious class rating.
- The aircraft's maintenance and flight hour records were unavailable for review.
- The aircraft departed from a non-certified landing area.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the collision with a sandbar.