What happened
On February 7, 2020, at approximately 19:10 UTC, an Embraer EMB-202A Ipanema, registration PT-UXY, was performing a ferry flight to a landing area at Fazenda São Francisco in Coromandel, Minas Gerais. The flight was intended to return the aircraft to its base after maintenance had been performed at Aeródromo Francisco Lázaro da Silvelar (SIWH).
While flying parallel to the landing strip, the engine power suddenly ceased. Witnesses observed the aircraft attempting a right-hand turn toward the runway, but the maneuver was initiated before the aircraft had cleared the threshold of the landing area. The aircraft struck the ground at a steep angle of descent, approximately 400 meters from the runway threshold, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and passed away at a local hospital later that day.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and flight data, including video footage and engine instrument readings. The investigation revealed that the fuel tanks were empty, and the fuel lines and distributor valve were dry, confirming that the engine had consumed all available fuel. Although the pilot had previously requested a 20-liter refueling, subsequent information suggested that 60 liters had been added to the aircraft, though the exact distribution between the left and right tanks was unknown.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft had undergone maintenance at SIWH, likely to address high oil temperature readings, though no formal entries regarding this service were found in the aircraft's logbooks. Furthermore, the investigation found that the stall warning system circuit breaker was disarmed, which prevented the pilot from receiving a low-speed warning during the critical phase of the flight.
Findings
- The engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion.
- The aircraft's fuel gauges indicated zero, and the fuel drains showed no remaining fuel.
- The pilot attempted to execute emergency procedures for an engine-out forced landing, as evidenced by the position of the fuel selector valve and flap settings.
- The disarmed stall warning circuit breaker prevented the pilot from receiving an aerodynamic stall alert.
- The steep descent angle and high sink rate during the final approach contributed to the severity of the impact.
- The pilot's decision-making and flight command application during the emergency contributed to the outcome.