What happened
On January 31, 2014, an EMB-202A aircraft, registration PT-VZT, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Usina Delta, Minas Gerais. The aircraft departed from the Usina Delta runway for a routine mission with the pilot on board. During the flight, the engine experienced a loss of power following a right-hand turn.
In an attempt to restore power, the pilot advanced the throttles and activated the electric fuel pump. However, the engine continued to lose power, forcing the pilot to perform an emergency landing in a nearby sugarcane field. The aircraft subsequently overturned upon impact. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the fuel system and the pilot's actions following the engine failure. The investigation established that the pilot typically operated with the left fuel tank selected, maintaining 60 liters in that tank, while keeping the right tank at a 20-liter reserve for extra spraying passes.
During a previous flight, the pilot had switched the fuel selector to the right tank to complete an additional pass. Although the pilot had refueled the left tank after that mission, they failed to switch the selector back to the left tank. Consequently, the engine was drawing from the right tank, which contained only approximately 300 ml of fuel. When the pilot activated the electric fuel pump, the engine's power loss continued because the fuel supply was nearly exhausted. The investigation also noted a fuel leak in the left wing, which led to the authorized drainage of that tank for analysis.
Findings
- The pilot failed to return the fuel selector to the primary tank position after a previous mission.
- Improper emergency procedures were followed, as the pilot did not check the fuel selector position when the engine failed.
- The pilot's judgment regarding the cause of the power loss was flawed.