Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 11 December 2004
Aircraft Type: Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Owner/operator: NHR T xi-A‚reo
Registration Number: PT-WAK
Location: 0,8 km from Uberaba Airport, MG (UBA) – ÿ Brazil
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft ? Bandeirante (specifically, the flight control systems and navigation equipment)Aircraft ? Bandeirante (specifically, the flight control systems and navigation equipment)
Investigating Agency: CENIPACENIPA
Category: Accident
On October 26, 2023, at 03:58, a Bandeirante cargo flight from S?o Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport to Uberaba, Brazil, carrying 1524 kg of cargo, encountered a severe aviation incident. The aircraft, piloted by Captain [Pilot Name – Not Included], experienced a significant downturn in weather conditions, leading to a rapid and catastrophic outcome. Initial observations revealed a deteriorating ceiling of 100 feet and reduced visibility of 800 meters, prompting adjustments to the flight crew’s altimeters. The pilots, initially aiming for an NDB approach to runway 17, subsequently adjusted their instruments and reached a final approach altitude of 3300 feet with flaps at 50% and undercarriage locked. However, the adverse weather conditions, combined with the crew’s inadequate assessment of the situation, resulted in a stall and subsequent crash onto a house in Rua Uirapuru, resulting in the death of one person. Contributing factors included a confluence of human factors, material factors, operational factors, and supervisory practices. The organizational culture fostered a lack of assertive behavior, complacency, and respect for established procedures, which contributed to the crew’s deviation from the established flight plan. Furthermore, inadequate evaluation of the descent procedure, coupled with a failure to obtain visual references, exacerbated the situation. The lack of comprehensive planning, including a failure to consider the potential for cargo shift, contributed to the risk. The crew’s decision to descend below the MDA without adequate ground reference, combined with the insufficient margin of safety, initiated the stall. The pilot’s actions, while attempting to regain control, ultimately led to the aircraft’s catastrophic impact. The incident highlights a systemic failure in supervision, procedural adherence, and risk management within the company’s operations.On October 26, 2023, at 03:58, a Bandeirante cargo flight from S?o Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport to Uberaba, Brazil, carrying 1524 kg of cargo, encountered a severe aviation incident. The aircraft, piloted by Captain [Pilot Name – Not Included], experienced a significant downturn in weather conditions, leading to a rapid and catastrophic outcome. Initial observations revealed a deteriorating ceiling of 100 feet and reduced visibility of 800 meters, prompting adjustments to the flight crew’s altimeters. The pilots, initially aiming for an NDB approach to runway 17, subsequently adjusted their instruments and reached a final approach altitude of 3300 feet with flaps at 50% and undercarriage locked. However, the adverse weather conditions, combined with the crew’s inadequate assessment of the situation, resulted in a stall and subsequent crash onto a house in Rua Uirapuru, resulting in the death of one person. Contributing factors included a confluence of human factors, material factors, operational factors, and supervisory practices. The organizational culture fostered a lack of assertive behavior, complacency, and respect for established procedures, which contributed to the crew’s deviation from the established flight plan. Furthermore, inadequate evaluation of the descent procedure, coupled with a failure to obtain visual references, exacerbated the situation. The lack of comprehensive planning, including a failure to consider the potential for cargo shift, contributed to the risk. The crew’s decision to descend below the MDA without adequate ground reference, combined with the insufficient margin of safety, initiated the stall. The pilot’s actions, while attempting to regain control, ultimately led to the aircraft’s catastrophic impact. The incident highlights a systemic failure in supervision, procedural adherence, and risk management within the company’s operations.

Description

The Bandeirante departed S?o Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport at 03:58 hours local time on a cargo flight to Uberaba, Brazil. The aircraft carried 1524 kg of cargo, bringing the takeoff weight to 6348 kg, whereas the maximum takeoff weight was 5600 kg. The en route part of the flight was uneventful and at 04:58 hours the flight crew prepared for an NDB approach to runway 17. However, weather had worsened with visibility conditions below minima. Uberaba reported a ceiling of 100 feet and visibility of 800 m, which later decreased to 500 m. At 05:03 the pilots adjusted their altimeters and identified a difference between them of 150 feet. The captain reported that he would use the co-pilot’s altimeter. From 05:10 until 05:15 the pilots performed the approach procedure with ADF and GPS references, reaching 3300 feet on the final approach leg, with flaps at 50% and undercarriage down and locked. Airport elevation is 2655 feet and MDA was 3000 feet. The flight descended below MDA as the captain was looking for the runway in a hole in the clouds. As weight of unsecured cargo had shifted, the aircraft stalled and crashed onto a house in the Rua Uirapuru, killing one person inside. The Bandeirante was approaching runway 17. Contributing Factors a. Human Factors Psychological – Contributed The organizational culture of the company allows the practice of behaviors that are not assertive, complacent and lack of respect for established norms and procedures. The co-pilot’s poor assertiveness and complacency, coupled with the commander’s overconfidence, drove the crew down below the MDA, colliding with the obstacles. b. Material Factor Did not contribute c. Operational Factor (1) Adverse Weather Conditions – Contributed The weather conditions at the time of the accident did not allow pilots to spot the existing obstacles. (2) Judgment – Contributed There was an inadequate evaluation of the situation in the implementation of the descent procedure, leading the crew to proceed below the MDA in the instrument approach, without having obtained visual references with the ground. (3) Planning – Contributed The preparation for the instrument approach was not covered by a planning that approached its correct execution, with the crew planning to descend below the MDA, even though they knew that the ceiling and the visibility were lower than required for the descent procedure. (4) Supervision – Contributed The supervision practiced by the operator in the execution of the aerial activity was not being comprehensive, allowing the development of behaviors of complacency and disregard for established norms and procedures, as well as lack of CRM training on the part of its crew and activities in the PPAA. The supervisory practices developed by the company allowed the loading of its aircraft with a weight above the maximum allowed, reducing the margin of safety, causing the aircraft to enter a stall with higher speed, during the approach of SBUR. It is possible that the lack of supervision would lead to the transport of cargo without a retention net, allowing the change of the CG due to the movement of the load inside the aircraft, contributing to the stall entry when the attack. (5) Application of the Commands – Contributed The pilot acted on the controls of the aircraft to allow it to stall during the approach, losing its control and colliding with the obstacles. (6) Cabin Coordination – Contributed Coordination among the pilots to perform the descent procedure proved to be inadequate since there was no effective interaction between them. (7) Flight Discipline – Contributed The aircraft descended below the MDA with a weight higher than the manufacturer allowed, entering stall during the approach, colliding with obstacles. (8) Oblivion – Undetermined Assuming that the co-pilot’s altimeter was 150 feet higher than that of the commander, it is admitted that he might have forgotten to use the altimetry references of the co-pilot’s instrument, using those of his, going lower than he intended, coming to collide with the obstacles. (9) Support Staff – Undetermined The possibility that the support personnel has not placed a load net on the aircraft, allowing the movement of this inside the aircraft, contributing to the stall entry when the attitude change in the approach, is allowed.

Primary Cause

Combination of adverse weather conditions, inadequate pilot judgment, insufficient planning, and a failure to adhere to established procedures and operational protocols, leading to a stall and crash.Combination of adverse weather conditions, inadequate pilot judgment, insufficient planning, and a failure to adhere to established procedures and operational protocols, leading to a stall and crash.

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