What happened
On January 27, 2007, a Cessna 182N, registration PT-DOJ, departed from Imperatriz Airport (SBIZ) in Maranhão, Brazil, bound for Davinópolis. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and five passengers. Shortly after takeoff from runway 25, the engine failed. The pilot attempted to execute a left turn to return to the runway, but the aircraft lost altitude and entered a stall.
The aircraft struck electrical power lines near a church before impacting the ground in a residential street, approximately 510 meters from the runway threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire. The crash resulted in three fatalities (the pilot and two passengers) and several injuries, including two serious and one minor injury. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and damage was sustained to the local electrical grid.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft' and the circumstances surrounding the flight. The investigation revealed that the aircraft had been parked outdoors at the Aeroclube de Imperatriz for at least 34 days, exposed to heavy seasonal rains. During the post-crash analysis, investigators found water in the fuel filter and 16 cubic centimeters of a cloudy mixture in the carburetor, indicating fuel contamination.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft was operating in an unsafe configuration. To accommodate parachutes for the passengers, the aircraft's seats had been removed, meaning the passengers had no seats or safety belts. The aircraft was also operating with an excess of passengers beyond its manual capacity.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel contamination by water, likely caused by condensation or infiltration while the aircraft was parked outdoors during the rainy season.
- The pilot failed to perform the mandatory fuel drainage procedures required by Airworthiness Directive 84-10-01 R1, which are necessary when an aircraft has been exposed to heavy rain.
- The aircraft was flying with an unauthorized passenger load and without required seating or safety restraints for the passengers.
- There was a lack of oversight by airport authorities regarding the boarding of passengers in remote parking areas.