What happened
On December 16, 2009, an EMB 201 A, registration PT-GYJ, was performing an agricultural spraying mission over a rice field in Cachoeer do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, when the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted an in-flight engine restart procedure but was unsuccessful. As altitude was lost, the aircraft struck bushes in a nearby wooded area before coming to a stop on the ground. The pilot survived the accident without injuries, though the aircraft sustained severe damage to the fuselage, engine, propeller, and right wing.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the fuel state and the pilot's emergency response. Investigators found that at the time of the impact, the left wing tank contained approximately 37 liters of fuel, while the right wing tank held only about 14 liters. The investigation established that the pilot had not performed a pre-flight inspection or verified the fuel levels before the initial takeoff. Furthermore, the investigation examined the organizational culture of the operator, noting a lack of updated accident prevention programs and a tendency to accept high-risk operations with last-minute flight assignments.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine power loss was an inappropriate fuel tank selection during the emergency procedure; the pilot switched to the right tank, which was below the usable minimum, rather than maintaining the left tank and activating the electric boost pump.
- The pilot had limited experience with this specific aircraft type and was performing her first agricultural season.
- There was a lack of adequate flight planning and a failure to verify fuel quantities prior to flight.
- Organizational factors included inadequate managerial supervision and a lack of formal performance monitoring for newly qualified agricultural pilots.
- The pilot demonstrated excessive confidence and failed to implement operational rules regarding fuel monitoring.