What happened
On January 8, 2009, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-36A, registration PT-WST, operated by Sete Táxi Aéreo Ltda., was performing a cargo and passenger flight from Santa Genoveva, GO, to Gurupi, TO. The flight involved two crew members and three passengers.
During the landing at Gurupi Aerodrome (SWGI) at approximately 23:10 UTC, the aircraft experienced a hard touchdown on the runway. This impact caused the right main landing gear to break. Upon realizing the damage, the pilot initiated a go-around. To mitigate risks, the crew remained airborne for approximately one hour and forty minutes to burn off fuel, following the aircraft manual's recommendation to land with minimum fuel when only one main gear leg is locked.
During the subsequent landing attempt, the aircraft veered to the right due to the damaged landing gear, eventually coming to a stop 45 degrees offset from the runway centerline. All five occupants escaped the aircraft without injuries, though the aircraft sustained light damage.
The investigation
The investigation by CENIPA focused on the cause of the initial hard landing and the subsequent loss of directional control. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which were found to be up to date, and verified that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits. The crew's certifications and flight experience were also confirmed to be valid.
Technical analysis ruled out mechanical failure of any aircraft components or directional control systems, as all systems were fully operational. Additionally, wind shear was ruled out as a factor due to calm wind conditions at the time of the incident. The investigation also evaluated the pilot's decision to perform a go-around, concluding that the maneuver was a prudent risk management decision intended to reduce landing weight and complexity.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor to the incident was the inadequate application of flight controls during the landing phase, which resulted in the hard touchdown.
- The breakage of the right main landing gear was a direct consequence of the impact force from the improper touchdown.