What happened
On June 7, 2014, at approximately 11:30 UTC, a Neiva EMB-202, registration PT-UIQ, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Nova Andradina, Mato Grosso do Sul. The aircraft had departed from a landing strip at Fazenda Viscaya to apply pesticides. During the application of its fourth load of the day, the engine failed while the aircraft was at a low altitude. The pilot attempted an in-flight restart by switching the fuel selector, but was unsuccessful. Consequently, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a nearby sugarcane plantation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the operational procedures and fuel management practices of the operator. It was established that the pilot was properly licensed and qualified for the mission, and the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits. The investigation focused on the fuel consumption sequence during the day's sorties.
Prior to the day's operations, both tanks had been filled with 40 liters of ethanol. To maintain safety and prevent ground personnel from crossing the aircraft's path during refueling, the operator utilized a procedure where only the right tank was fueled while the engine remained running. During the third flight of the day, the pilot chose to consume 20 liters from the left tank before switching the selector back to the right tank. Following the third load, the right tank was replenished with an additional 20 liters. However, during the fourth flight, the engine stopped because the fuel selector had inadvertently been left on the left tank, which had been depleted of usable fuel.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by the exhaustion of usable fuel in the tank currently selected by the fuel selector.
- The pilot failed to return the fuel selector to the right tank after utilizing the left tank during the previous flight.
- The established operational procedure of fueling only one side of the aircraft contributed to a lapse in fuel management.
- Errors in pilot judgment and memory regarding the fuel selector position were identified as contributing factors.
- Inadequate management planning regarding flight planning, refueling, and fuel management during operations was noted.