What happened
On January 10, 2015, an EMB-710C aircraft, registration PT-NAB, departed from Brigadeiro Araripe Macedo Airport in Luziânia, Goiás, for a local recreational flight. Shortly after takeoff from runway 11, the aircraft experienced an engine failure during the initial climb. The loss of power caused the aircraft to lose altitude, leading it to strike a television satellite dish and a residential utility pole before ultimately colliding with a building at an angle of approximately 14 degrees. The impact caused the aircraft to yaw left and settle in a nose-down attitude. The accident resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and one passenger) and two serious injuries to the remaining passengers. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the airframe, wings, cockpit, and landing gear.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine and carburetor components following the accident. While the engine's internal components showed no signs of excessive wear or malfunction, the engine was not producing power at the time of impact. The investigation focused on the Marvel-Schebler MA-4-5 carburetor, noting that its inspection interval had expired in September 2014. Upon inspection, investigators found that the carburetor's float stem was bent, which prevented the metallic float from being properly centered within the bowl, causing it to rub against the walls. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the maintenance history, noting that several manufacturer Service Bulletins (SB-2 Rev B and SB-4 Rev B) had not been documented as completed.
Findings
- Maintenance failure: The failure to perform the required carburetor overhaul and the omission of mandatory Service Bulletins contributed to the undetected bent float stem and improper float clearance, which led to the loss of engine power.
- Operational culture: The flight crew's habit of not performing pre-takeoff briefings or utilizing checklists may have hindered the pilot's situational awareness and decision-making during the emergency.
- Regulatory ambiguity: Ambiguity in Airworthiness Directive 2010-08-04 regarding the required actions for restoring safe airworthiness, as well as unclear protocols regarding the mandatory nature of manufacturer Service Bulletins not yet converted into Airworthiness Directives, were identified as contributing factors.