What happened
On September 13, 2019, a Cozy Mark IV experimental aircraft, registration PR-ZQA, departed from General Leite de Castro Aerodrome (SWLC) in Rio Verde, Goiás, bound for Votuporanga, São Paulo. The flight was a private operation carrying a pilot and one passenger.
Approximately five minutes after takeoff, while the aircraft was performing a left turn over the departure end of the runway, witnesses observed an abnormal increase in engine noise followed by sudden silence. The aircraft entered a descent and subsequently collided with a medium-sized tree and the ground. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the propulsion system. The Lycoming AEO-306-EXP engine was inspected by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE). The investigation found that the engine was not seized and could be rotated manually without difficulty. No discrepancies were found in the cylinders, pistons, or crankshaft. Analysis of the propeller indicated that the engine was not producing power at the moment of impact, as there were no signs of impact marks on the spinner or transverse scratches on the blades.
Regarding the fuel system, the fuel gauge indicated more than half a tank, and significant amounts of fuel were found at the scene, allowing investigators to rule out fuel exhaustion. However, the investigation noted that the auxiliary fuel pump selector was found in the 'off' position. According to the aircraft's checklist, this pump should be turned off once the aircraft reaches 1,000 feet, suggesting the aircraft had reached that altitude before the failure.
While the engine's maintenance records showed a recent annual inspection, the engine logbook noted that the engine had been overhauled in a workshop without an airworthiness tag, and its original year of manufacture or Time Since New (TSN) was not documented.
Findings
- The engine failed for an unidentified reason during the climb.
- The pilot held valid medical and single-engine land ratings, though total flight experience could not be fully verified.
- The engine had been previously overhauled without an airworthiness tag, and its specific age (TSN) was unknown.
- The engine was not operating at the time of the collision.