What happened
On February 19, 2009, an EMB-201 A aircraft, registration PT-GXP, was performing agricultural spraying operations over a soybean plantation in Camaquã, Rio Grande do Sul. While applying fungicide, the aircraft's engine suffered an instantaneous failure. Due to the low altitude at which the aircraft was flying, the pilot was unable to perform any emergency maneuvers other than a forced landing within the application area.
The impact occurred with the engine lacking power. The aircraft's right landing gear and the tip of the right wing struck the ground first, with the aircraft coming to a stop 26 meters from the initial point of impact. The aircraft sustained severe damage to the engine, propeller, right wing, and main landing gear. The pilot was able to exit the cabin through the door and remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine and found internal damage caused by a lack of lubrication. A pressure test of the engine oil radiator revealed a crack approximately 5 cm in length, which had caused a total loss of engine oil.
While maintenance services were performed by a qualified workshop, investigators noted that the aircraft's logbooks (cell, engine, and propeller) were not up to date, as recent flight hours had not been recorded. The investigation also looked into the possibility that the crack had been present during previous flights and that a thorough pre-flight inspection might have identified the low oil level or the leak.