What happened
On September 24, 2018, at approximately 20:43 UTC, a Christen Eagle II, registration LV-X390, landed on runway 17 at the General Rodríguez Aerodrome after completing an aerobatic training session. Following the landing, the pilot announced on the local frequency that the aircraft would perform a 180-degree turn and taxi along the runway. During this maneuver, an unregistered and uncertified motorized trike entered the runway near taxiway Bravo to conduct takeoff and landing practice. The LV-X390 continued its taxi and collided with the trike on the runway. The collision resulted in minor injuries to the pilot of the LV-X390 and the occupant of the trike. The Christen Eagle II sustained significant damage to its left lower wing and propeller blades.
The investigation
The investigation by the JST examined several operational and institutional factors. It was established that the trike involved in the collision was not registered or certified according to current regulations and lacked any radio communication equipment. Furthermore, the pilot of the trike was operating without a valid certificate of competency.
Regarding communications, the investigation found that the aerodrome was using a frequency (123.2 MHz) that deviated from the standard general call frequency (123.5 MHz) established by the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC). This discrepancy was reportedly due to interference on the standard frequency from nearby uncontrolled aerodromes. The investigation also noted that the sun's position during the 180-degree turn may have obscured the pilot's view of the trike, and the conventional landing gear configuration of the LV-X390 limited the pilot's forward visibility during taxiing.
Findings
- The LV-X390 did not vacate the runway immediately after landing, instead performing a turn back onto the active runway.
- The trike was unregistered, uncertified, and lacked communication equipment.
- The pilot of the triker was operating without the required aeronautical competency certificate.
- The aerodrome lacked a written procedure for organizing operations and did not have an established Aerodrome Emergency Plan.
- There was a lack of effective oversight by the aeronautical authority regarding discrepancies found during previous inspections.
- The aerodrome's use of a non-standard communication frequency contributed to potential loss of situational awareness.