What happened
On September 5, 2018, a Textron C90 GTI, registration PR-GVJ, departed from Aeródromo Carlos Drummond de Andrade in Belo Horizonte, MG, bound for Confresa, MT. The flight, which included a pilot and five passengers, was intended for personnel transport. During the flight, the destination was changed to an unregistered landing area at Fazenda Angola, near Vila Rica, MT, for the purpose of monitoring wildfire activity.
During the landing attempt at the unregistered site, the aircraft first struck a lake located before the intended landing area. The impact caused the aircraft to hit the shoreline, which subsequently tossed the plane into the air before it came to rest on a strip of land between the lake's edge and the landing area. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. Among the six occupants, one passenger sustained serious injuries, while the pilot and the remaining four passengers suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's credentials, and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The investigation confirmed that the pilot held valid multi-engine and instrument ratings, and the aircraft's airworthiness certificate and maintenance logs were up to date. The aircraft was also within weight and balance limits, and meteorological conditions were favorable for flight.
The pilot initially reported that the power levers had jammed, necessitating an emergency landing. However, technical inspections of the PR-GVJ revealed no abnormalities in the throttle pedestal or any other aircraft systems. Analysis of the CVR data indicated that there was no evidence of engine malfunction or any dialogue suggesting an emergency. Furthermore, the recordings showed that the occupants made no preparations for an emergency landing, and there was no sign of increased stress in the cabin prior to impact.
Findings
- The decision to divert to an unregistered landing site was intentional.
- The pilot's use of flight controls was inadequate, leading to the initial contact with the lake.
- The inadequate risk assessment during the decision-making process led to the unauthorized landing attempt.
- The operation failed to adhere to established aviation regulations, which prohibit the use of unregistered aerodromes for such operations.