What happened
On February 16, 2023, at approximately 11:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB-201A Neiva was performing an agricultural spraying mission near Fazenda São José, in Santa Vitória do Palmar, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft, operated by Chuí Aviação Agrícola Ltda-ME, was executing a turn to align with the application area when the pilot experienced a loss of engine performance.
In response to the power loss, the pilot performed a forced landing on unprepared terrain. The impact caused the main landing gear to collapse and resulted in the propeller striking the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot emerged from the incident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and operational records. While the pilot held valid commercial licenses and the aircraft possessed a valid airworthiness certificate, several discrepancies were identified regarding the engine.
Records indicated that the engine (Serial Number L-34306-48E) had been installed on PT-UDU on January 15, 2023, replacing a previously authorized engine. However, the aircraft's airframe logs did not reflect this engine change. Furthermore, the investigation found that the operator failed to provide documentation for the required engine preservation procedures following a long period of inactivity. The engine had been out of service since September 2020, and there was no evidence that the manufacturer's recommended storage protocols had been followed.
Additionally, because the aircraft had not flown between the engine installation and the accident, investigators could not confirm if the required flight evaluation for using ethanol fuel—as mandated by Brazilian civil aviation regulations for this specific engine/airframe combination—had been performed.