What happened
On December 16, 2012, a Neiva EMB-201A, registration PT-GSO, departed from the Rosário do Sul aerodrome (SSRZ) for an agricultural reconnaissance mission. The flight was intended to survey an area prior to the application of agricultural pesticides. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, the pilot encountered adverse meteorological conditions. To avoid the deteriorating weather, the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing on the BR-290 highway, a major road connecting the municipalities of Rosário do Sul and São Gabriel in Rio Grande do Sul.
The landing was completed without damage to the aircraft, and the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by SERIPA V, identified several procedural and maintenance irregularities following the incident. The investigators established that the pilot and the operator, Aero Agrícola Rosariense Ltda, failed to report the occurrence as required by aeronautical regulations (NSCA 35). Furthermore, the aircraft was removed from the landing site without authorization from the investigating officer, and the pilot performed a subsequent takeoff from the highway without authorization from the relevant regulatory agency. The investigation also noted that the pilot failed to notify Air Traffic Services (ATS) regarding the situation.
Findings
- The pilot held valid medical and technical certifications and was qualified with 1,200 total flight hours.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits and held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
- The aircraft's 100-hour inspection was overdue, and the maintenance logs for the airframe, propeller, and engine were not up to date.
- The pilot and operator failed to follow mandatory reporting and communication protocols regarding the occurrence and the subsequent takeoff from the highway.