What happened
On December 5, 2013, an Embraer EMB-712 aircraft, registration PT-NXS, departed from Campo de Marte Airport (SBMT) in São Paulo, Brazil, bound for Sorocaba Airport (SDCO) for a training flight. The aircraft was operated by Aeroclube de São Paulo.
Upon approaching the runway at SDCO, the aircraft experienced a sudden, forceful impact with the ground after crossing the runway threshold. The force of the landing caused the nose landing gear to collapse, leading to propeller blade damage and an immediate engine shutdown. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the pilot's credentials, the aircraft's maintenance status, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot held a valid private pilot license and medical certificate but was currently undergoing training to obtain a commercial pilot license. The investigation noted that while the pilot was qualified, he possessed limited experience with this specific aircraft model.
The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid, and all maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe were up to date. The aircraft was also within its proper weight and balance limits.
The pilot reported being caught by a downburst during the landing phase, which prevented him from recovering the aircraft to a proper attitude. However, investigators could not verify the presence of a significant meteorological event. The Sorocaba airport lacked radar or air traffic control services, and no other pilots reported similar weather disturbances, and METAR/TAF reports from nearby São Paulo indicated favorable flying conditions.
Findings
- The pilot's lack of experience with the Embraer EMB-712 contributed to an insufficient control input to counteract the reported wind disturbance.
- The pilot's judgment during the landing phase was a contributing factor.
- The pilot's reported encounter with adverse weather conditions could not be confirmed due to a lack of local meteorological monitoring at the airfield.