What happened
On October 4, 2010, a Cessna R182, registration PT-OXL, was performing a private flight from Paragominas to Belém, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers. After landing on runway 15 at Brigadeiro Protasio de Oliveira Airport (SBJC), the aircraft traveled approximately 500 meters along the centerline before veering to the right, resulting in a loss of control on the ground.
During the subsequent ground roll, the tires burst, which triggered the unlocking and retraction of the main landing gear. The aircraft eventually came to a stop 1,000 meters from the start of the runway. The incident resulted in light damage to the right wing tip, the stabilizer, and the right elevator. All four occupants were unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft, the pilot's experience, and the maintenance records. Investigators found that the pilot had limited experience with this specific model, with only approximately 7 hours of flight time.
Regarding the aircraft's maintenance, while the airworthiness certificate was valid, the logbooks for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date. There were no records in the aircraft's technical logs regarding the completion of the 100-hour inspection, although a service order was later presented claiming the inspection had been performed. Notably, the aircraft had exceeded the 100-hour inspection interval by 1.9 hours.
Additionally, communication records indicated that the aircraft entered the traffic pattern and landed without authorization from the tower, likely due to a communication failure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the tire burst was the excessive use of brakes by the pilot.
- The tire failure was aggravated by excessive wear on the tire treads, as evidenced by the visible grooves.
- The retraction of the main landing gear was caused by the friction resulting from the tire burst and subsequent contact with the ground.
- The pilot had limited experience in the Cessna R182.
- Maintenance documentation was incomplete, with outdated logbooks and missing entries regarding the aircraft's technical status.
- The aircraft landed without prior authorization from the control tower due to a probable communication failure.