What happened
On September 3, 2007, an EMB-711C, registration PT-NGF, departed from Júlio César Airport (SBJC) in Pará, Brazil, bound for Santa Cruz do Arari. The flight, operated by Soure Táxi-Aéreo Ltda., was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
Shortly after takeoff, while the pilot was retracting the landing gear, the engine began to lose power. The pilot attempted several emergency procedures, including switching the fuel selector to the right tank and checking the magnetos, but the RPM continued to decrease. Unable to return to the airport, the pilot performed an emergency landing in the woods of the Embrapa Farm, located approximately 2 km from the runway extension of Runway 15. The aircraft struck a tree with its left wing before impacting the nose into the swampy ground. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine and fuel systems following the accident. While the Servo Fuel Injector was tested at the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) and showed no functional abnormalities, investigators found impurities and corrosion accumulated in the left fuel tank's finger screen.
Further inspection of the aircraft revealed that the fuel tank vent lines had dried-out flexible connections, suggesting they had not been replaced during the required 1,000-hour inspection. Additionally, the aircraft's airworthiness logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were found to be outdated. The investigation also noted that it could not be confirmed if the pilot had performed the required fuel tank drainage during the pre-flight inspection.
Findings
- Impurities in the fuel system likely caused a momentary blockage of the fuel injector's calibrated orifices, leading to the loss of engine power.
- Potential maintenance deficiencies regarding the cleaning of fuel tanks and the replacement of vent line connections.
- Possible failure to perform pre-flight fuel drainage, which would have allowed for the detection of contaminants or water in the tanks.
- Inadequate management oversight regarding the maintenance of aircraft documentation and service records.