What happened
On March 19, 1998, a Cessna 182P, registration PT-JLG, departed from Dourados, MS, bound for an uncertified landing strip at Fazenda Bom Jesus. Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 5,500 feet, the engine began to fail and subsequently stopped completely.
The pilot initially attempted an emergency landing in a grassy area but, upon realizing the terrain was unsuitable, redirected the aircraft toward a nearby dirt road. Due to the low altitude and the need to avoid an obstacle, the pilot performed a sideslip to anticipate the touchdown. The aircraft made contact with the left side of the road at a speed slightly higher than expected. Upon hitting a rise in the road, the aircraft was tossed into the air and slid into a cultivated field, where it eventually capsized on its back. All three occupants (the pilot and two passengers) were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained severe damage to the propeller, engine, fuselage, landing gear, vertical stabilizer, and wings.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine and found a hole in the crankcase near cylinder number five. Disassembly revealed that the piston in that cylinder had disintegrated. The investigation identified excessive wear on the piston pin ends and scoring on the cylinder walls, caused by intense friction. This irregular operation was traced to a bent connecting rod. It was hypothesized that improper assembly of the cylinder assembly during a previous overhaul may have caused the rod to bend, leading to the eventual failure.
Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot's medical certificate had been expired since 1997 and that the aircraft's engine and propeller logbooks were not up to date. The pilot also chose to fly to an uncertified landing strip.
Findings
- Deficient Judgment: The pilot's decision to change the landing site at a low altitude prevented the use of the full length of the road, forcing a sideslip that destabilized the approach.
- Deficient Application of Controls: The pilot failed to restore the proper aircraft attitude for touchdown following the sideslip.
- Engine Failure: The engine failure was caused by a bent connecting rod, likely resulting from improper assembly during a previous maintenance overhaul.
- Pilot Certification: The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate.