What happened
On August 3, 2013, a Beechcraft 58, registration PT-LKG, departed from the Comandante Rolim Adolfo Amaro Aerodrome (SBJD) in Jundiaí, Brazil, bound for Batayporã, Mato Grosso. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers for a passenger flight.
Shortly after takeoff, the control tower notified the pilot that smoke was visible emanating from the left engine. The pilot requested to return to the airport for landing but did not declare an emergency. While performing the traffic circuit for runway 36, the aircraft lost control, struck the ground near a highway overpass, and exploded. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft, and all four fatalities occurred at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and analyzed security camera footage from a nearby facility. The footage captured the aircraft in a steep, uncoordinated descent with a significant left lateral inclination and a nose-down attitude just before impact.
Technical examinations of the engines revealed that while the right engine was operating normally, the left engine suffered from severe power loss. Specifically, investigators found that five of the six fuel injector nozzles were partially or completely blocked by material from a fuel hose. Although the aircraft was within its maximum takeoff weight and the weather conditions were favorable, the investigation noted that the aircraft's maintenance logbooks were outdated and the pilot's multi-engine rating (MLTE) had expired in July 2013.
Findings
- Engine failure: The left engine failed due to fuel injector nozzles being clogged with debris from a fuel hose.
- Loss of control: The pilot was unable to maintain a positive climb gradient or sufficient control during the single-engine flight configuration, leading to the collision.
- Maintenance issues: There was evidence of potential contamination within the fuel system, possibly due to improper maintenance or the use of non-traceable parts.
- Pilot experience: The pilot's flight records were unavailable to verify experience, and his multi-engine rating was overdue.