What happened
On April 11, 2017, a Neiva EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-UJL, was performing agricultural spraying operations over a cotton field at Fazenda Semente Tropical in Pedra Preta, Mato Grosso. The aircraft had completed its first 30-minute flight leg and landed to refill the hopper with pesticides, but the pilot did not add additional fuel to the wing tanks during this stop.
During the second 30-minute flight leg, the engine experienced a loss of power and subsequently failed. The pilot attempted to switch the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank, but the engine failed to restart. The pilot performed a forced landing in the plantation. Following the impact, a fire broke out in the engine area. Although the pilot attempted to use an onboard fire extinguisher, the fire could not be contained, and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators determined that the aircraft had been fueled with 60 liters of aviation gasoline in each wing tank prior to the mission. The investigation focused on the fuel management process, noting that the pilot admitted to forgetting to switch the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank after the first flight leg. Given that the aircraft's fuel consumption averages between 60 and 70 liters per hour, the depletion of the left tank was the primary cause of the engine failure.
The investigation also noted significant procedural irregularities. The operator failed to immediately notify the aeronautical accident investigation authority (SIPAER), and the wreckage was removed from the scene without authorization. The initial investigation was conducted approximately 100km away from the accident site, as the wings and engine had already been disconnected from the fuselage by the operator.