What happened
On May 24, 2022, a Cessna 210N, registration PT-LSB, departed from the Itacoatiara Aerodrome (SBIC) in Amazonas, Brazil, bound for Flores (SWFN). The flight, which was a private operation carrying one pilot and two passengers, encountered engine power loss approximately 20 minutes into the flight, roughly 14 nautical miles from the departure point. After an initial attempt to restore power failed, the pilot executed a forced landing in a lake on the banks of the Urubu River. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, while the pilot sustained light injuries and the two passengers remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft three days after it was recovered from the water. The inspection revealed no evidence of structural failure, leaks, or engine malfunctions prior to the impact. However, investigators found that the fuel quantity indicators on the instrument panel were inoperable.
Analysis of the flight logs and fuel consumption revealed that the pilot had been performing several flight legs between various aerodames in the days leading up to the accident. Based on the aircraft's performance tables, the investigators determined that the fuel remaining in the tanks at the time of departure was likely near zero. The pilot had estimated fuel reserves based on a consumption rate of 70 liters per hour, whereas the actual performance data suggested a higher consumption rate of approximately 77 liters per hour.
Findings
- Fuel exhaustion was the primary cause of the engine failure.
- Inadequate flight planning regarding the required fuel load for the intended mission.
- Failure to maintain the aircraft's fuel quantity indicators, which prevented accurate monitoring of remaining fuel.
- A pilot attitude characterized by complacency and non-compliance with regulations regarding the use of inoperable instruments.
- The pilot's reliance on inaccurate fuel consumption estimates contributed to the error in calculating remaining endurance.