What happened
On September 21, 2017, a Beechcraft 400A, registration PT-WHE, operated by Líder Táxi-Aéreo S.A. - Air Brasil, was performing a ferry flight from Vitória, ES, to Mucuri, BA. The flight crew, consisting of two pilots, landed at the Mucuri Aerodrome (SNMU) at approximately 18:40 UTC.
During the landing roll, the crew believed there were issues with the engine reversers and the normal braking system. In response, the pilots applied the emergency brake. This action caused the main landing gear wheels to lock, leading to the bursting of the tires. The aircraft subsequently drifted to the left, exiting the paved surface and coming to a stop in an area of low vegetation. The aircraft sustained light damage, specifically to the wheel hubs, brake assemblies, and tires, while the crew remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators determined that the aircraft touched down approximately 780 meters from the threshold of runway 05. Based on the aircraft's performance, the required landing distance for a safe stop was approximately 980 meters, leaving only about 620 meters of runway remaining at the moment of touchdown.
Post-incident inspections of the aircraft's braking and anti-skid systems, as well as the engine reversers, revealed no mechanical abnormalities. The investigation found that the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at a speed of VREF +15kt, which deviated from the operator's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Additionally, the absence of 1,000ft markings on the runway may have hindered the crew's situational awareness regarding their position on the runway.
Findings
- Improper approach speed: The crew crossed the threshold at a speed higher than the recommended VREF, contributing to an unstabilized approach and a long landing.
- Inadequate decision-making: The crew elected to proceed with the landing rather than executing a missed approach (go-around) despite the deviation from established parameters.
- Ineffective cockpit coordination: The option to execute a go-around was not suggested by either crew member during the approach.
- Emergency brake application: The use of the emergency brake led to wheel lock-up and tire failure.
- Infrastructure limitations: The lack of 1,000ft runway markings at the aerodrome may have impacted the pilots' ability to assess the landing point.