What happened
On December 4, 2022, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registration PR-CMC, was conducting a private local flight departing from Flores Aerodrome (SWFN) in Manaus, Brazil. The flight carried a pilot and two passengers. During the return to the aerodrome, the pilot encountered a tailwind gust on final approach and elected to proceed with a long landing on runway 11.
Upon touchdown, the left tire experienced a burst. This failure caused the aircraft to veer off the left side of the runway. During the excursion, the left main landing gear strut collided with the edge of a taxiway, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. All three occupants were unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft and the runway conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation noted that the pilot held valid medical and pilot licenses, and the aircraft possessed a valid airworthiness certificate. However, the maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date.
Investigators analyzed the left tire, which showed significant wear patterns consistent with wheel lock-up during braking. The investigation also noted that the runway surface was degraded, featuring various asphalt patches used to fill potholes. Furthermore, the operator failed to report the occurrence to the regional investigation service (SERIPA VII), and the aircraft was removed from the scene without authorization from the investigating authority, which hindered the investigation process.
Findings
- The left tire burst due to a lock-up during braking following a long landing.
- The degraded condition of the runway asphalt may have contributed to excessive tire wear and accelerated the failure during the lock-up.
- The pilot's decision to perform a long landing after encountering a tailwind gust contributed to the sequence of events.
- The aircraft's maintenance records for the engine, propeller, and airframe were not updated.