What happened
On February 20, 2020, a Neiva EMB-720D, registration PT-VFW, departed from Flores Aerodrome in Manaus, Brazil, en route to Porto Velho, Rondônia. The aircraft was operating a private flight carrying a pilot and four passengers. During the flight, the engine experienced a failure. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times without success.
Following the engine failure, the pilot contacted the Amazon Center to declare an emergency and executed an emergency landing on the Madeira River near Porto Velho. After the aircraft came to a stop on the water, the pilot and all four passengers evacuated the cabin. The aircraft subsequently sank. All five occupants escaped the incident uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation faced significant challenges due to the unauthorized tampering of the wreckage. Before the initial investigation team could arrive at the site in Porto Velho, the aircraft had been partially dismantled. Specifically, the engine and several critical components, including the spark plugs, the fuel injector servo, and the left magneto, had been removed or uninstalled without authorization from the investigation commission.
This unauthorized intervention, which violated the Brazilian Aeronautical Code (Art. 88-N of Law 7.565/86), prevented investigators from performing the necessary examinations to identify the specific cause of the engine failure. Furthermore, the period the aircraft spent submerged in the river caused damage to the engine's internal components and the electrical system, potentially masking pre-existing issues.
Findings
- The pilot held valid medical and flight licenses and was experienced in the aircraft type.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits and possessed a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
- Weather conditions at the time of the incident were favorable for flight.
- The exact cause of the engine failure remains undetermined due to the removal of essential components and the lack of the aircraft logbook for review following the most recent maintenance intervention.
Safety action
CENIPA issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to disseminate the lessons learned from this investigation. The goal is to alert aircraft owners and operators regarding the necessity of strictly adhering to operational regulations and laws, specifically concerning the preservation of wreckage and evidence following an accident.