What happened
On May 4, 2012, a Cessna 206, registration PT-OND, was performing a passenger transport flight between Aldeia Paa-Piú Novo and Aldeia Maloca Paa-Piú in Roraima, Brazil. During the takeoff roll at the SJMD airstrip, the pilot determined that the aircraft would not reach the necessary rotation speed to ensure a safe departure.
As the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff, they realized the aircraft would likely exceed the available runway limits. To prevent an overrun, the pilot executed a sharp left turn (a 180-degree maneuver) using differential braking. During this maneuver, the right wingtip and leading edge collided with tree branches located on the side of the runway. The aircraft eventually came to a stop within the runway boundaries. The pilot returned to the start of the runway, shut down the engine, and disembarked the two passengers. All occupants were unharmed, though the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the runway conditions and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation established that the pilot was qualified and experienced for this type of operation, and the aircraft was airworthy with all maintenance records up to date.
While the official ROTAER dimensions for the grass runway were listed as 600 x 30 meters, the pilot reported the usable portion was significantly smaller, approximately 400 x 20 meters. The investigation noted that heavy rain throughout the morning had left the unpaved surface covered in puddles. This contaminated surface likely increased the aircraft's acceleration distance, making the takeoff attempt unsafe.
Findings
- The primary contributing factors were the pilot's judgment regarding the takeoff and the execution of the emergency maneuvers.
- The unpaved, contaminated runway surface, characterized by standing water, likely degraded aircraft performance and increased the required takeoff distance.