What happened
On January 27, 2021, a Cessna 150M, registration PT-FIB, was conducting an area reconnaissance flight departing from Leite Lopes Aerodrome in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Approximately three hours and 50 minutes into the flight, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot notified air traffic control of an impending engine failure and performed an emergency landing in a waterlogged rural area near a highway in the municipality of Serra Azul, São Paulo. During the landing, the aircraft overturned, causing substantial damage to the nose landing gear, wing, empennage, and fuselage. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators determined that the engine failure was caused by a lack of fuel, as no gasoline was found in the aircraft's tanks or engine fuel lines. The investigation revealed several technical discrepancies regarding the aircraft's configuration. Specifically, investigators found two metal structures attached to the underside of the fuselage used to support equipment for aerial surveys. There were no records in the aircraft's documentation regarding the installation of these structures, and the maintenance organization was unaware of the modification. Additionally, the investigation noted that the aircraft's right-hand tank fuel indicator was inoperative, and the mixture lever was not functioning correctly, which hindered the pilot's ability to monitor fuel consumption.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot failed to properly calculate the fuel required for the flight segment, violating established VFR fuel requirements.
- The aircraft was operating with undocumented structural modifications and inoperative cockpit instruments, including the right-hand fuel gauge and the mixture lever.
- There was a lack of managerial oversight by the operator regarding the maintenance of airworthiness documentation and technical equipment conditions.
- The pilot's training and preparation for operating this specific aircraft were found to be inadequate, as evidenced by an inability to answer technical questions during the investigation.