What happened
On October 14, 2011, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration PR-OPJ, was performing a private IFR flight from Carlos Prates, MG, to Campo de Marte, SP. While descending through FL260, the pilot reported encountering turbulence. As the aircraft passed over Poços de Caldas, the pilot decided to disengage the autopilot to increase the rate of turn and avoid entering the São Paulo terminal area prematurely.
During this maneuver, while operating under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), the pilot experienced spatial disorientation and lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft descended approximately 1,500 feet before the pilot was able to recover the flight path. The aircraft continued to its destination, where it was noted that the upper surface of the left wing had been deformed. All three occupants (one pilot and two passengers) were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot, while qualified for IMC operations, had limited experience in this flight profile, as most of his instrument training was completed for rating purposes. The investigation also found that following the landing, the aircraft was moved to a maintenance facility in Goiânia for repairs without the knowledge of CENIPA or the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
Analysis of the flight dynamics revealed that the pilot's decision to fly without autopilot assistance, combined with the presence of turbulence and the aircraft's excessive bank angle during the descent, created a situation highly susceptible to spatial disorientation. The pilot also admitted that the G-load limits were exceeded during the recovery from the abnormal attitude, which caused the structural deformation to the left wing.
Findings
- Spatial disorientation of the pilot during IMC flight.
- Limited pilot experience in instrument flight conditions.
- Disengagement of the autopilot during a period of turbulence.
- Excessive bank angle and application of flight controls.
- Exceeding the aircraft's G-load limits during recovery, resulting in light damage to the left wing.