What happened
On November 28, 2009, an Embraer EMB 810C, registration PT-EVH, was performing a flight from Lábrea to Flores, Amazonas, with a pilot and two passengers on board. During the flight, the pilot performed an intermediate landing at an uncertified and unregistered airstrip in Tapauá, Amazonas, to disembark one passenger.
During the landing roll at the Tapauá airstrip, the aircraft traveled approximately 300 meters before a motorcycle entered the runway and crossed the aircraft's path. The collision caused the motorcycle to strike the propeller and the right-side leading edge of the wing. Following the impact, the pilot taxied to the parking area and checked the condition of the motorcyclist, who sustained light injuries.
Despite observing substantial damage to the engine's propeller and the wing's leading edge, the pilot proceeded to take off again from the same location to continue the flight to Manaus. The pilot did not report the occurrence to aeronautical or police authorities at the time of the event; the incident only came to light three days later when a maintenance workshop was contracted to repair the propeller, engine, and wing.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the Tapauá airstrip was not a registered or homologated facility. A subsequent inspection by civil aviation authorities (SERAC VII) found significant irregularities at the site, including a lack of perimeter fencing, debris near the runway, and the fact that the local community used the runway as a public road.
The investigation also noted that the pilot's decision to depart the scene and continue the flight violated existing aeronautical regulations (NSCA 3-7), which prohibit the removal of an accident site or damaged aircraft without authorization, except in specific emergency circumstances. Due to the nature of the pilot's actions and the lack of new preventive information to be gained from the event, the investigation was officially interrupted.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was the uncontrolled entry of a motorcycle onto the runway at a location where the runway was being used as a public street.
- The airstrip lacked proper infrastructure, such as fencing, to prevent unauthorized access by the local community.
- The pilot failed to report the occurrence to the appropriate aeronautical and police authorities.
- The pilot operated in violation of safety regulations by departing the scene and continuing the flight with a damaged aircraft without authorization.