What happened
On November 17, 2017, a Cessna A185E, registration PT-DNY, was preparing for a flight from Piquiatuba Aerodrome (SNCJ) to Óbidos (SNTI) in the state of Pará, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers for a private operation.
During the takeoff roll on runway 11, the aircraft began to yaw to the left while the nosewheel was still on the ground. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation using right rudder and differential braking, but was unable to maintain the centerline. The pilot subsequently decided to abort the takeoff. During the aborted attempt, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway, performed a 180-degree turn on the unpaved surface, and came to a stop approximately 80 meters from the start of the takeoff roll. The excursion caused the right main landing gear to collapse and the right wingtip to strike the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. All four occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot held a valid medical certificate and single-engine land rating, with 200 total flight hours, 30 of which were in the Cessna A185E. The aircraft was within weight and balance limits, and all maintenance records were up to date.
Post-accident observations revealed that the pilot had not perceived 20-knot left crosswind gusts present at the time of takeoff. The investigation focused on the aircraft's handling characteristics, noting that as a conventional gear aircraft with a large fuselage area behind the center of gravity, the Cessna A185E is highly susceptible to the keel effect during crosswind operations.
Findings
- The pilot's failure to accurately perceive the intensity of the crosswind gusts during the pre-takeoff phase.
- The potential for inadequate application of flight controls or failure to follow recommended techniques for high-crosswind takeoffs, such as those outlined in the manufacturer'1968 Owner's Manual.
- The pilot's limited experience in the specific aircraft type (30 hours) and the potential impact of limited flight experience on decision-making and aircraft control under challenging environmental conditions.