What happened
On October 3, 2013, a PA-31T1 operated by Abelha Táxi Aéreo e Manutenção Ltda. was conducting a charter flight from Bom Futuro (SIAQ) to Fazenda Ribeiro do Céu (SWYP) in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and four passengers.
During the flight, the crew reported an issue regarding the oil pressure in the left engine. In response to this perceived malfunction, the commander decided to perform a precautionary landing at a nearby location, an unrecorded and uncertified strip at Fazenda São José. The landing surface consisted of uncompacted soil. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to drag for approximately 45 meters. The impact caused the propeller blades of both engines to strike the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe, engines, and propellers. All six occupants escaped the accident without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's technical condition and the crew's decision-making process. While the crew reported low oil pressure, physical evidence from the propeller damage indicated that both engines were producing power at the moment of impact. The investigation also noted that the operator performed independent tests on the oil pressure indicator system without the presence of CENIPA technicians, leading the commission to disregard the operator's findings.
Investigators also looked into the flight's intended destination. Evidence suggested the crew may have intended to land at an unregistered strip (Pista da Bunge) and potentially landed at the accident site due to inaccurate coordinate information. The investigation found that the aircraft had sufficient fuel and performance capability to continue to a certified airport, even under single-engine conditions.
Findings
- Flight Misconduct: The operation may have involved a deviation from established civil aviation regulations by attempting to use an unregistered landing site.
- Pilot Judgment: The crew's decision to land immediately was potentially inadequate, as the aircraft possessed the necessary autonomy and performance to reach a suitable, certified aerodrome.
- Management Supervision: The operator failed to provide adequate oversight, allowing operations to be conducted outside of established regulatory norms.
- The landing gear failure was caused by the uncompacted nature of the landing surface.