What happened
On August 8, 2021, a Neiva EMB 711C, registration PT-NHH, was performing a series of private flight legs between Aeródromo Santa Rosa Pantanal Hotel (SWJS) and Aeródromo Internacional Marechal Rondon (SBCY) in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aircraft was transporting one pilot and three passengers.
Approximately 30 minutes after departing from SWJS, the engine experienced an initial failure. Although the pilot successfully performed emergency procedures and restarted the engine, a second failure occurred shortly after, and the engine would not restart. The pilot attempted to divert to the Pocon/Poconé Aerodrome (SWPK) for an emergency landing but was unable to reach the runway. The aircraft performed a forced landing in a mining area approximately 2 km from the aerodrome. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, while the remaining two passengers suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and found that the propeller and engine sustained damage consistent with a collision without power. There was no evidence of fire or fuel flowing onto the ground following the impact. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all maintenance logs and airworthiness certificates were up to date.
Investigators also reviewed the flight planning. The pilot had planned to complete four flight legs using a single full tank of fuel, based on a calculated endurance of 4.5 hours. However, the investigation noted that the pilot's planning did not account for fuel consumption during taxi, takeoff, climb, and descent, nor did it account for the increased fuel burn associated with operating on unpaved runways or potential wind conditions. Furthermore, the pilot reported that the fuel gauge was inaccurate, making it impossible to precisely verify the remaining fuel volume before departure.
Findings
- The most probable cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
- Inadequate flight planning, specifically failing to account for unpaved runway operations and non-cruise fuel consumption, contributed to the accident.
- The pilot's planning relied on theoretical endurance figures that did not reflect the actual operational variables of the mission.