What happened
On May 6, 2000, a Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria, registration PT-IRG, took off from the Juiz de Fora Airport for a local aerobatic training flight. The pilot, who was scheduled to perform in an aerial demonstration later that afternoon, attempted a "snap roll" (tounneaux rápido) shortly after takeoff at an altitude of approximately 180 feet.
During the maneuver, the aircraft pitched up to about 30 degrees before the pilot applied full right rudder. While the aircraft completed the rotation, it ended up approximately 10 degrees right of the original takeoff heading. The aircraft was unable to regain sufficient airspeed and remained in a pre-stall condition with a negative climb rate. Consequently, the aircraft struck the steep, irregular terrain to the right of the runway. The impact caused severe structural damage to the landing gear, left wing, fuselage, propeller, and engine. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the pilot's experience. The aircraft's maintenance records were up to date, and the engine and flight controls were found to be in adequate condition. Although the pilot had reported some play in the elevator controls the previous day, he deemed it satisfactory for the intended flight.
The investigation focused on the pilot's transition between aircraft types. While the pilot was a highly skilled commercial pilot and an accomplished aerobatic competitor, he had recently been forced to switch from a high-performance Pitts aircraft to the Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria due to the unavailability of the former. The investigation also noted that the pilot had only 8 hours and 20 minutes of total time in the Citabria, with only 1 hour and 15 minutes flown in the 30 days preceding the accident.
Findings
- Inadequate safety margins: The pilot failed to plan the maneuver with sufficient altitude and airspeed to account for the lower performance of the Citabria compared to high-performance aircraft.
- Inexperience with aircraft type: The pilot's limited recent experience in the Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria contributed to the inability to manage the aircraft's slower recovery characteristics after the snap roll.
- Psychological factors: A desire for professional recognition and the pressure to deliver an impactful performance for a specialized audience influenced the pilot to attempt a high-risk maneuver at a very low altitude.
- Environmental factors: The higher altitude of the accident site compared to previous training locations resulted in lower engine performance and aerodynamic lift.