What happened
On June 23, 2014, a Raytheon G58, registration PP-DUR, departed from Erechim, RS, en route to the Fazenda da Paz airfield (SIXD) in Santana do Livramento, RS. The flight was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) with a pilot and three passengers on board.
Upon arrival at SIXD, the aircraft collided with an object on the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting one blade of the right propeller and the fuselage. All four occupants of the aircraft were uninjured. Due to the nature of the event, investigators could not definitively determine whether the collision occurred during the landing roll or during taxiing, nor if the passengers had already disembarked at the time of the impact.
The investigation
The investigation by CENIPA noted that the official notification was made 11 days after the occurrence. Investigators found that the information initially provided by the pilot was inconsistent with the evidence gathered during the inquiry. The most probable hypothesis is that the aircraft struck the tires used to mark the runway boundaries.
Following the incident, the aircraft performed two subsequent flights: one to Guarapuava, PR, and another to Pontలకు Grossa, PR, for maintenance. Analysis of flight data revealed that during these legs, the aircraft's average speed was significantly lower (between 135kt and 142kt) than its typical cruise speed, which usually exceeds 200kt. This suggests the aircraft was operated in a degraded state, likely with the right engine power reduced or cut to mitigate vibrations caused by the damaged propeller.
Findings
- The investigation could not determine the specific contributing factors to the initial collision due to a lack of cooperation from the pilot in clarifying the facts.
- The pilot's decision to continue operating the aircraft despite the known propeller damage was identified as flight indiscipline, as it placed the crew, passengers, and the aircraft at unnecessary risk.
- The aircraft's maintenance records, airworthiness certificate, and the pilot's medical and technical certifications were all found to be valid and up to date.