What happened
On January 27, 2011, an EMB-810C, registration PT-ESV, was performing a passenger transport flight from Rio Branco, AC, to Pauini, AM. The flight, carrying one pilot and six passengers, proceeded normally until the landing phase at Pauini Aerodrome (SWUI).
During the landing roll, the right main landing gear struck a hole in the asphalt runway. The hole had been obscured by rainwater from recent precipitation, preventing the pilot from identifying the hazard. The impact caused the immediate failure of the right landing gear. As the gear collapsed, the aircraft's right wing dipped, and the engine experienced a sudden stoppage. The pilot attempted to maintain the centerline using left rudder, but the friction from the broken gear dragging on the ground caused the aircraft to veer off the runway, eventually coming to a stop approximately 150 meters from the impact point.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the runway conditions and the management of the aerodrome. Investigators found that while the pilot was properly qualified and the aircraft was in a valid state of airworthiness, the infrastructure at Pauini was significantly compromised. The investigation noted that the runway surface contained several holes and lacked proper horizontal or vertical signage. Furthermore, the presence of pedestrians and animals near the runway thresholds increased the operational risk.
Crucially, the investigation established that there was no NOTAM issued to alert pilots to the degraded runway conditions. The investigation also noted a discrepancy in the ROTAER, which listed the runway as unpaved, whereas it was actually asphalt.