What happened
On June 23, 2003, an EMB-720D operated by Amazonaves Táxi-Aéreo Ltda. departed from Tefé, Amazonas, bound for Fonte Boa, Amazonas. The aircraft was performing a cargo flight, transporting mail bags, with a pilot and one passenger on board. After traveling approximately 40 nautical miles from Tefé, the aircraft lost radio contact.
The aircraft was not located until three months later, when fishermen discovered it partially submerged on the banks of a lake in the Maguari community. The wreckage was found in an inverted position. The impact resulted in two fatalities and severe damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components. Analysis of the engine revealed that the crankshaft gears had suffered broken teeth due to an overload mechanism. Discrepancies were also noted in the aircraft's maintenance logs; while the engine and propeller logs recorded a 100-hour inspection on June 4, 2003, the airframe logbook inconsistently recorded a 1,000-hour inspection on the same date.
The investigation also looked into the landing attempt. The landing gear was found in the extended position, suggesting the pilot intended to land on what appeared to be solid ground. However, the area consisted of shallow water covered by low vegetation. Heavy rain in the region at the time of the accident was also considered as a factor that may have obscured the true nature of the terrain.