Unqualified Passenger Operated Aircraft During Landing, Leading to Runway Excursion

Casualties unknown • SALVADOR, BA, BR

An Embraer EMB-500 veered off the runway at Salvador, Brazil, after an unqualified passenger was permitted to operate the aircraft under the supervision of the pilot in command.

What happened

On August 13, 2022, an Embraer EMB-500, registration PR-FBU, was performing a private passenger flight from Barreiras to Salvador, Bahia. The aircraft was operating in a single-pilot configuration with one pilot and seven passengers on board.

Upon landing on runway 10 at the Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães Airport (SBSV), the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control and exited the runway via the right side. The aircraft sustained light damage, but all eight occupants escaped without injury.

The investigation

CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's flight data recorder (CVDR) and maintenance records. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's braking systems, including the brake-by-wire and antiskid functions, were fully operational and functioning as designed. No mechanical failures or discrepancies in the airworthiness of the aircraft were found. Data from the CVDR showed that the aircraft's approach profile deviated below the ideal glideslope after the autopilot was disengaged.

Crucially, voice data from the CVDR revealed that the pilot in command (PIC) had verbally handed over the operation of the aircraft to the passenger occupying the right cockpit seat. The pilot reported that both the takeoff from Barreiras and the landing at Salvador were conducted by this passenger under the pilot's supervision.

While the pilot was fully qualified and licensed, the passenger occupying the right seat—who was also a managing partner of the operating company—was flying with expired licenses and an invalid medical certificate. The passenger lacked the necessary type rating for the EMB-500 and held only expired ratings for ultralight and single-engine aircraft.

Findings

  • The unqualified passenger conducting the flight maneuvers was the primary factor in the loss of control.
  • The pilot in command's decision to allow an unauthorized person to operate the aircraft violated Brazilian civil aviation regulations (RBAC 61 and 91).
  • The pilot's attempt to supervise the passenger while simultaneously managing flight parameters likely led to a reduction in situational awareness, preventing the timely recognition of the developing directional loss.
  • The aircraft's braking and landing gear systems were fully functional and showed no signs of failure.

Probable cause

The occurrence was caused by the pilot in command allowing an unqualified passenger, who lacked the proper type rating and valid medical certification, to operate the aircraft, which directly led to the loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-08-13 aircraft accident near SALVADOR, BA, BR?

An Embraer EMB-500 veered off the runway at Salvador, Brazil, after an unqualified passenger was permitted to operate the aircraft under the supervision of the pilot in command.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-08-13 involved a aircraft, registration PRFBU, at SALVADOR, BA, BR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The occurrence was caused by the pilot in command allowing an unqualified passenger, who lacked the proper type rating and valid medical certification, to operate the aircraft, which directly led to the loss of directional control during the landing roll.

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