What happened
On January 5, 2013, an EMB-202A aircraft, registration PT-VYN, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso. During a repositioning maneuver, the engine failed. The pilot immediately jettisoned the chemical load and attempted an emergency landing on the MT-449 highway.
During the final approach to the roadway, the aircraft struck an electrical wire running perpendicular to the road and subsequently collided with a road sign. The impact caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the right and strike a high-voltage utility pole with significant force, uprooting the structure. The aircraft then struck the ground at a 90-degree angle. The pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine, fuel, and lubrication systems, as well as the propeller and airframe. Analysis of the propeller blades indicated that the engine was producing power at the moment of ground impact. The investigation focused on why the engine failed during a routine maneuver and why the aircraft struck the utility infrastructure.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the operational environment. While the pilot was highly experienced and qualified, the investigation looked into whether operational pressures or procedural omissions contributed to the accident. The investigation also noted that the pilot was not wearing a helmet at the time of the impact.
Findings
- The engine failure was likely caused by fuel exhaustion because the pilot failed to switch fuel tanks from the right to the left during the flight.
- The pilot's high motivation to maximize sprayed acreage may have led to a lapse in situational awareness and a failure to monitor internal cockpit variables.
- The pilot did not complete the required emergency checklist for an engine-out landing, specifically regarding fuel selector and mixture settings.
- A phenomenon of "tunnel vision" may have occurred, where the pilot's intense focus on selecting a landing site led to a failure to perceive external obstacles like the power lines.
- The use of a protective helmet might have mitigated the fatal head injuries sustained during the collision with the cockpit structure.