What happened
On June 26, 2013, a Cirrus SR22, registration PR-WIL, departed from Bauru (SBBU) with a flight plan originally destined for Resende (SDRS). During the flight, the pilot requested a change of destination to Valença (SDVL) via Rio de Janeiro Approach (APP-RJ) due to a lack of available weather information for the original destination.
Upon arriving at Valença, the pilot performed a landing on the unpaved runway. During the final approach, the aircraft maintained a glide slope above the ideal path and an excessive airspeed. The aircraft made its initial touchdown slightly to the right of the runway centerline. Despite the pilot applying full left rudder to correct the drift, the aircraft continued to veer toward the right side of the runway. Near the midpoint of the runway, the Cirrus SR22 exited the paved surface, resulting in the failure of the left landing gear. The aircraft came to a stop in the adjacent vegetation, less than one meter from the runway edge, perpendicular to the centerline. Both occupants, the pilot and one passenger, were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters, environmental conditions, and the aircraft's mechanical state. Investigators noted that due to local terrain and ROTAER regulations, landing on runway 35 was prohibited, necessitating a landing from the south (runway 17). This orientation resulted in a left crosswind of approximately 10 to 15 knots.
Furthermore, the investigation identified a significant fuel imbalance between the wing tanks. At the time of the incident, the left tank contained 10 US gallons, while the right tank contained 28 US gallons. This 18 US gallon difference exceeded the maximum allowable imbalance of 7.5 US gallons specified in the aircraft's Flight Operations Manual.