What happened
On January 3, 2014, at approximately 21:00 UTC, a Neiva EMB 201A, registration PT-GQN, crashed in the vicinity of Fazenda Agro Cerrado, near Lagoa Formosa, Minas Gerais. The aircraft, operated by ENAGRI (Empresa Nacional de Aviação Agrícola Ltda.), was performing agricultural spraying operations over a cornfield.
While executing a low-altitude reversal turn, the aircraft struck the ground. The impact caused the destruction of the aircraft and the release of chemical agents onto the terrain. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed significant regulatory and maintenance irregularities regarding the aircraft. The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had been suspended since May 2014 due to a failure to perform the required annual maintenance inspection. Furthermore, investigators found that the aircraft's logbooks and propeller records were severely outdated, with the last entries dating back to 2011. The engine and airframe maintenance logs were not provided by the operator.
While the aircraft was equipped with a Lycoming IO-540-K1J5D engine, evidence suggested the engine had undergone a fuel conversion from AVGAS to ethanol (AEHC) in a manner that did not comply with the required Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) or regulatory instructions. Specifically, the necessary cockpit markings, placards, and proper documentation for this modification were absent. Investigators also noted that the engine modification appeared to have been performed using improper materials and outside of an approved workshop.
Despite these maintenance failures, the investigation could not definitively link the engine's condition to the crash, as propeller damage indicated the engine was still producing power at the moment of impact. Local witnesses reported seeing the aircraft begin a rapid descent during a turn, suggesting the aircraft entered a stall.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying with a suspended Certificate of Airworthiness.
- The engine had undergone unauthorized or non-compliant modifications regarding fuel type.
- Maintenance records, including engine and airframe logs, were missing or outdated.
- The aircraft was in a state of loss of control during a low-altitude reversal turn, likely resulting in a stall.
- The pilot's medical certificate and agricultural flight ratings were valid at the time of the accident.
Safety action
Following the investigation, safety recommendations were issued to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to:
- Conduct an audit of ENAGRI to verify the compliance of their aircraft maintenance services.
- Work with the operator to emphasize training in agricultural flight techniques, specifically regarding the risks associated with reversal turns.