What happened
On October 23, 2016, a Cessna 188 (registration PT-WKT) was undergoing ground testing at the AGRIGEL Aero Agrícola strip in Vale Verde, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft had been stationary for seven months and was being tested prior to being transported to a maintenance workshop. During the third ground run, the aircraft struck a rock on the gravel runway, causing it to veer to the left. In an attempt to correct the deviation using the brakes, the pilot caused the aircraft to swerve to the right, eventually coming to a stop on the runway. The pilot escaped the incident uninjured, but the aircraft sustained structural damage, including the breakage of two fuselage support tubes.
The investigation
The investigation by SERIPA V was initiated nearly a month after the event, following a report rather than a formal notification from the operator. Investigators found that the operator failed to report the occurrence to the SIPAER system and initially avoided completing the required notification forms. Furthermore, the aircraft was moved and disassembled by the operator before investigators could arrive, making it impossible to fully assess the extent of the structural damage. The investigation also revealed that the operator failed to present essential maintenance logs, technical certificates, or flight logs for review.
Findings
Several critical safety and regulatory violations were identified during the investigation:
- The aircraft's Annual Maintenance Inspection (IAM) was overdue since July 2016.
- The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness (CA) had been suspended by ANAC since August 2016.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft despite having a medical certificate (CMA) restriction that prohibited solo flight.
- The runway surface consisted of gravel and contained numerous loose stones, which contributed to the collision.
- The operator failed to comply with the Brazilian Aeronautical Code and SIPAER regulations regarding accident reporting and documentation.