What happened
On October 15, 2020, at approximately 15:40 UTC, a Neiva EMB-810D, registration PT-WIP, operated by Aero Center Brasil Táxi Aéreo Ltda., was performing a passenger transport flight from Primavera do Leste (SWPY) to Aragarças (SJVO). The aircraft was carrying one pilot and five passengers.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in the right engine. Due to the low altitude at the time of the failure, the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing in a nearby field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact, though all six occupants (the pilot and five passengers) emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the condition of the engine components. Records indicated that on the same day as the accident, during a previous flight leg, the pilot had noted a drop in RPM on the right engine. Consequently, the right engine magneto had been removed and serviced by a maintenance organization earlier that day.
Upon inspection of the recovered magnetos, investigators found that the right magneto exhibited abnormal operation due to insufficient sparking. A detailed teardown revealed that the primary coil was severely damaged. The investigation focused on whether the failure was caused by an internal electrical or thermal insulation breakdown, potentially stemming from improper maintenance procedures.
Findings
- The primary coil of the right magneto was severely damaged, leading to insufficient sparking.
- A failure in the thermal or electrical insulation of the primary coil likely caused an internal short circuit.
- The loss of power was the direct result of this component failure.
- The pilot's decision to perform an immediate emergency landing, rather than analyzing single-engine climb performance options, may have influenced the outcome of the event.