What happened
On January 13, 2009, an EMB-202A aircraft, registration PT-UTX, was performing agricultural spraying operations over a rice field in Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul. During the low-altitude flight, the engine failed instantaneously. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing within the same rice field.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft continued to slide for several meters. Due to the saturated and muddy nature of the terrain, the main landing gear sank into the soil, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest on its back. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and while the aircraft suffered significant damage to the propeller and light damage to the engine, fuselage, and wings, there were no fatalities.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation focused on the engine failure and the circumstances of the landing. Investigators examined the engine components and found that most parts, including the cylinders, pistons, and valves, were in good condition. However, the mechanical fuel pump showed cracks and deformation in its actuating arm.
Technical analysis, including simulations, revealed that the mechanical fuel pump had been incorrectly installed. The mounting of the pump was tilted, which caused the actuating arm to deform under vibration. This deformation prevented the arm from properly aligning with the pump's actuating pin, eventually leading to a loss of fuel pressure and the subsequent engine shutdown. Additionally, investigators noted that the pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate and was flying with the electric auxiliary fuel pump turned off, contrary to the manufacturer's manual for low-altitude operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was the incorrect installation of the mechanical fuel pump, which led to the deformation of the actuating arm and loss of fuel flow.
- Inadequate maintenance supervision allowed the improper installation of the fuel pump component to occur.
- The pilot's failure to operate the electric auxiliary fuel pump during low-altitude flight may have prevented the engine from being restarted following the initial failure.
- The pilot was flying with an expired medical certificate (CCF).