What happened
On October 28, 2014, at approximately 18:20 UTC, a Cessna 170A, registration PT-AEW, was performing a repositioning flight from Atibaia Aerodrome (SDTB) to Bragança Paulista (SBBP). During the takeoff roll on runway 02, the aircraft was struck by a powerful crosswind. This wind impact caused the aircraft to touch the ground and drift laterally beyond the runway boundaries.
As the pilot attempted to correct the aircraft's path, the landing gear made contact with a sandy area adjacent to the runway. This friction induced an involuntary ground loop. Following the excursion, the aircraft was able to taxi under its own power back to the hangar area. The pilot remained uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage to its landing gear.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the meteorological conditions at the time of the occurrence. The investigation established that the aerodrome, located on a high point in the city, is subject to orographic variations. On the day of the accident, strong and variable winds were present, characteristic of windshear and associated with cumulonimbus (CB) clouds. The intensity of the wind was evidenced by the fact that the windsock support had been broken during the event. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot held valid medical and technical certifications, the aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate, and all maintenance logs were up to encounter. The aircraft was within weight and balance limits at the time of departure.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor was the application of control inputs during the encounter with severe meteorological conditions.
- The presence of strong, variable winds and windshear conditions significantly impacted the aircraft's aerodynamic stability during the takeoff phase.