What happened
On November 19, 2006, an Embraer EMB-810D, registration PT-RST, was performing a private transport flight from Vila Rica, MT, to Goiânia, GO. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and six passengers. During the landing approach to runway 31 at the Nacional de Aviação aerodrome, the pilot experienced a loss of pitch control during the flare, causing the aircraft to float and enter a porpoising motion. This resulted in the right propeller striking the runway.
Following the initial contact, the pilot attempted a go-around to re-establish the traffic pattern. However, as power was applied, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control to the right due to damage to the right engine. The aircraft flew at a low altitude and low airspeed, eventually striking treetops with the right wing. The momentum carried the aircraft into a residential area, where it struck the roofs of two houses. The landing gear tore through the rooftops, and the aircraft finally came to rest on a wall separating the two structures.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's weight and balance configuration and the flight sequence. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating outside of the manufacturer's specified weight and balance limits at the time of landing. Specifically, the investigation determined that the center of gravity (CG) had shifted behind the maximum allowable aft limit during the flight due to fuel consumption.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating outside of the permitted weight and balance limits.
- The center of gravity was positioned beyond the maximum aft limit during the landing phase.
- The pilot's decision-making and flight commands during the go-around contributed to the loss of directional control.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
- The occupants—one pilot and six passengers—survived the accident, with one passenger sustaining minor injuries and the others remaining uninjured.