What happened
On May 25, 2002, a Cessna 310Q, registration PT-LXU, operated by TIO Táxi-Aéreo Ltda., departed from Eduardo Gomes Airport (SBEG) in Manaus, Brazil, bound for Parintins. The flight was carrying two crew members and four passengers. Shortly after takeoff, after crossing the opposite runway threshold with the landing gear retracted, the pilots noticed abnormal parameters in the right engine.
In an attempt to return to the airport, the crew executed a left turn at approximately 500 feet. During the approach, the right engine was shut down and the propeller was feathered. Although the crew passed over an area suitable for an emergency landing, they elected to continue the attempt to reach the runway. However, the aircraft lost altitude more rapidly than anticipated, making the return to SBEG impossible. The aircraft struck a 16-meter-tall tree and subsequently hit other obstacles, traveling approximately 200 meters before coming to a halt. A fire broke out in the left engine following the impact.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events following the engine malfunction. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the aircraft had undergone a 200-hour inspection only 11 flight hours prior to the accident. The investigation also looked into the environmental conditions, noting that the aircraft had been parked outside a hangar the previous night and was exposed to a heavy storm.
While the exact cause of the engine failure could not be definitively determined because fuel and engine analyses were not performed, investigators considered the high probability of fuel contamination due to moisture. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the crew's experience, noting that the commander had recently returned to flying after an 18-year hiatus and had only 200 hours of experience in this specific model.