What happened
On December 3, 2017, at approximately 20:45 UTC, a Cirrus SR-22, registration PR-OTO, was performing a private flight from Aeródromo Fazenda Macuco (SJFM) in Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul, destined for Maringá, Paraná. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and two passengers.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a leftward yaw. The pilot attempted to correct the trajectory by applying the right brake, but was unable to maintain the centerline. The aircraft veered off the left side of the grass runway and struck a fence post. The impact caused the left wing to detach from the fuselage. Following the complete stop, the aircraft was consumed by fire, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. All three occupants managed to egress the aircraft and were unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's credentials, and the mechanical condition of the engine and braking systems. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid medical certificate and single-engine land rating, though he had limited experience with this specific aircraft model, with only approximately 30 hours of flight time in the Cirrus SR-22.
The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid, and all maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe were up to serially updated. The engine, a Continental IO-550-N, was inspected following the accident, and no mechanical discrepancies were found that could have hindered performance. While investigators noted irregular wear on the left main landing gear tire, there was no evidence of a locked wheel, as no skid marks were present on the runway.
Findings
- The pilot had limited experience operating the specific aircraft model.
- The aircraft veered left during the takeoff roll and exited the runway.
- The impact with a fence post caused the separation of the left wing.
- Inadequate application of flight controls during the takeoff roll was identified as a potential factor in the loss of directional control.