What happened
On December 8, 2016, a Cessna T188C aircraft, registration PT-WJI, was performing its second takeoff of the day at an improvised landing strip on the Santa Lúcia farm in Tapes, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft, operated by Dilopes Aviação Agrícola Ltda., was engaged in agricultural spraying operations.
According to the pilot, as the tail lifted off the ground during the takeoff roll, a wild animal appeared directly in the aircraft's path. The pilot applied left rudder to steer away from the animal; however, while attempting to return to the center of the runway, the tail of the aircraft struck the ground on the side, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft sustained light damage during the incident, and the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation faced several challenges due to the delay in reporting the event. The incident was only officially reported nineteen days after it occurred, following a complaint made to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANATEL). Because of this delay, repair work on the aircraft had already begun before investigators arrived, making it impossible to verify the specific damage reported by the pilot. Furthermore, the time elapsed prevented investigators from confirming the actual presence of wildlife on the runway at the time of the event.
Findings
- The aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate had expired on October 4, 2016.
- The Annual Maintenance Inspection was overdue since August 18, 2016.
- Maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date.
- The takeoff occurred at an improvised landing strip, an environment highly susceptible to animal incursions.
- The pilot was properly licensed and held a valid medical certificate.
- The investigation noted that the delay in reporting and the lack of maintenance compliance represent violations of aeronautical regulations.