What happened
On May 16, 2009, an EMB-720C, registration PT-EXC, was performing a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Macapá to Laranjal do Jari, Brazil, carrying a pilot and one passenger. As the aircraft approached runway 36 at Laranjal do Jari, the pilot noted an abnormal engine noise accompanied by a drop in fuel flow and manifold pressure. Although the pilot activated the electric fuel pump, there was no recovery in pressure.
While attempting to execute a standard traffic pattern to lose altitude, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power during a left turn at approximately 1,300 feet. The pilot continued the approach at speeds between 70 and 75 knots, which was below the recommended minimum of 87 knots for engine failure procedures. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 50 meters before the runway threshold. The impact caused severe damage to the engine, propeller, landing gear, and left flap, though the pilot and passenger escaped with minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft and found that a fuel hose connecting the injection pump to the distributor valve had become disconnected at the pump outlet, causing a fuel leak. This investigation revealed that a maintenance service had been performed on this specific component at a location other than the primary maintenance facility, and this service was not recorded in the aircraft's logbooks or engine records.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft was operating on a dirt and gravel runway, which involves significant vibration. The investigation focused on why the pilot maintained a standard approach pattern despite the early indications of fuel starvation and why the unrecorded maintenance service had gone unmonitored.