What happened
On February 16, 2016, an Embraer EMB-820C Navajo, registration PT-WZA, was performing a private passenger flight from Jacarepaguá (SBJR) in Rio de Janeiro to Campinas (SDAM) in São Paulo. The flight was operated by Agropecuária Jogil Ltda. with a pilot and two passengers on board.
During the flight, near Ubatuba, SP, the pilot noticed a low fuel level indicator. In response, the pilot reduced power to a more economical setting. Shortly thereafter, low fuel pressure and low fuel flow alarms activated, accompanied by a drop in pressure in the left engine. The pilot attempted to manage the fuel by switching from the external tanks to the internal tanks, believing sufficient fuel remained for approximately 75 minutes of flight.
As the aircraft approached São José dos Campos, the fuel gauges showed the left tanks at roughly one-third capacity while the right tanks appeared empty. The pilot attempted to use the crossfeed valve to maintain fuel flow to both engines. However, the left engine failed, followed quickly by the right engine. The pilot performed a forced landing on the Rodovia Prefeito Joaquim Simão, near Santa Isabel, SP. During the impact, the left wing struck vegetation, causing the aircraft to strike an embankment and spin approximately 390 degrees before coming to a halt. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including broken landing gear and a detached left engine, but all three occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation examined the aircraft's fuel system, which consists of four main tanks and two nacelle tanks. Investigators noted discrepancies between the pilot's reported fuel levels and the actual residual fuel found in the left wing tank. While the pilot reported having 340 liters of AvGas at departure, the flight plan indicated an endurance of 1 hour and 50 minutes, which did not align perfectly with the actual consumption and planning data. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's engine, cell, and propeller logbooks were not presented, making it impossible to verify if maintenance records were up to date.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning regarding fuel reserves and consumption.
- Improper pilot judgment regarding the decision to continue the flight despite inconsistent fuel indications and the onset of low-pressure warnings.
- The occurrence of a dual engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.