What happened
On February 6, 2020, a Piper PA-31, registration PT-WOT, was conducting a ferry flight from Aeródromo Maestro Wilson Fonseca (SBSN) in Santarém, Pará, to Aeródromo Eduardo Gomes (SBEG) in Manaus, Amazonas. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers to deliver the plane to a new owner.
While cruising at FL100 and approximately 60 NM from the departure airport, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in the left engine. The pilot declared an emergency at 20:50 UTC. In an attempt to return to SBSN, the pilot was unable to reach the airfield and instead performed a forced landing on the Arapiuns River, near the São Miguel community, roughly 23 NM from the departure point. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact with the water. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the three passengers remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial licenses, multi-engine, and instrument ratings, as well as a valid medical certificate. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate and annual maintenance inspection were both valid at the time of the accident. The flight was operating within weight and balance limits, and meteorological conditions were favorable for flight.
Investigators noted that while maintenance records from a previous provider were available, specific information regarding the aircraft's logbooks and engine/propeller notebooks could not be obtained. Furthermore, the investigation authority requested the removal of the aircraft from the water and the provision of documentation for the left engine and its accessories, but these requests were not met by the owner.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a left engine power loss.
- The contributing factors remain undetermined due to the lack of access to specific engine documentation and the inability to inspect the engine components following the incident.