What happened
On April 13, 2017, at approximately 18:00 UTC, a Neiva EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-UJI, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Itaporã, Mato Grosso do Sul. The aircraft took off from an agricultural landing strip to apply pesticides. During the mission, the engine experienced a loss of power, forcing the pilot to perform an emergency landing in a cornfield located near highway MS-157. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft and the operational environment following the accident. While the pilot held valid medical and flight certifications and the aircraft possessed a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, investigators found that the maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe were not up to date.
Upon inspecting the fuel system, investigators discovered an imbalance between the tanks: the left wing was empty, while the right wing contained approximately 40 liters of ethanol. The fuel selector was found disassembled, confirming that the engine failure was caused by a lack of fuel supply. The investigation also uncovered a pattern of informal fuel management practices within the operator's organization, where pilots would fly using only one tank and only switch to the other upon detecting engine symptoms. Furthermore, the company lacked formal manuals or documented procedures regarding fuel management, indicating a lack of operational oversight.
Findings
- Fuel exhaustion was the direct cause of the engine power loss.
- The pilot failed to perform the necessary fuel tank switch in a timely manner.
- Inadequate managerial supervision and the absence of standardized operational procedures contributed to the accident.
- The acceptance of informal, risky fuel management practices within the organization created a significant safety vulnerability.