What happened
On September 29, 2018, a Bravo 700 ultralight aircraft, registration PU-WCW, departed from the João Pessoa Aeroclube (SNJO) in Paraíba, Brazil, bound for Tabuleiro (SJFU). The flight was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
While flying near Guarabira, the aircraft's engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a cassava plantation. Upon contacting the irregular terrain, the aircraft rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Both occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators identified several significant irregularities during the inquiry. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate, their Advanced Ultralight (UATE) rating had been expired since March 201 and the pilot's experience with this aircraft type could not be verified. Furthermore, a discrepancy was discovered between the flight plan and medical records: the identity of the person treated at the hospital did not match the pilot listed on the flight plan, suggesting the person operating the aircraft at the time of the accident was not the individual declared in the official documentation.
Crucially, the investigation was severely compromised because the aircraft was removed from the accident site without authorization from the investigating authority. This prevented investigators from performing an in-situ analysis or collecting essential data regarding weight and balance or specific engine performance metrics.
Findings
- The primary cause of the emergency landing was an engine power loss during flight.
- The aircraft rolled over due to the impact with irregular ground terrain.
- The pilot was operating with an expired ultralight pilot rating.
- There was a discrepancy regarding the identity of the pilot in command between the flight plan and the actual person operating the aircraft.
- The investigation was terminated by CENIPA because the unauthorized removal of the aircraft prevented the identification of contributing factors and rendered further investigation of no benefit to accident prevention.