Incident Overview
During the takeoff roll from Coari-Urucu Airport at night, an aircraft collided with a tapir that struck the right main gear. The crew continued the takeoff procedure and flew to Manaus. After two hours and burning fuel, the aircraft landed at Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport. Upon touchdown, the right main gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer to the right and come to rest. All 49 occupants evacuated safely, while the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Sequence of Events
The collision occurred during the takeoff roll at night. The tapir struck the right main gear, but the crew proceeded with the takeoff and the flight to Manaus. Approximately two hours later, after consuming fuel to reduce weight, the aircraft landed at Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport. On touchdown, the damaged right main gear failed, leading to a loss of directional control as the aircraft veered right and stopped. All passengers and crew evacuated without reported injuries.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause as a collision with a tapir during takeoff, causing severe damage to the right main gear. Several contributing findings were identified: the lack of isolation of the operational area allowed the land animal to enter the runway; the crew did not notice the animal early enough to abort the takeoff within runway limits; and the presence of the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) directly led to the collision with the right main landing gear.