What happened
On August 19, 2013, a Neiva EMB-201A, registration PT-GSQ, was performing a ferry flight from the Aeroclube Nacional de Aviação de Goiânia, GO, to Paracatu, MG, when the engine failed shortly after takeoff. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field near the departure airfield. During the descent, the aircraft struck several termite mounds and a smooth-wire fence, causing the left landing gear to collapse, followed by the loss of the right landing gear and a 180-degree ground loop. The pilot survived the impact without injuries, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the engine failure was caused by the accidental interruption of fuel flow. During refueling, which was performed by the pilot using drums of aviation gasoline, an imbalance in fuel quantity occurred between the left and right wing tanks. The pilot believed the fuel selector was set to the right tank and intended to switch to the left tank to balance the aircraft's weight. However, the selector was already set to the left tank; when the pilot attempted to switch, he inadvertently moved the selector to the 'off' position. This action cut off the fuel supply to the engine, leaving only the fuel remaining in the fuel lines to sustain combustion.
Additionally, the investigation found that the fuel selector markings were poorly visible, making it difficult to confirm the selector's position. The investigation also noted that the engine had undergone an unauthorized modification to allow operation with ethanol, though the pilot stated the aircraft had not yet flown with that fuel type.
Furthermore, the aircraft was being operated in a highly non-compliant manner. The aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate and Annual Maintenance Inspection were both significantly expired, and there was no record of maintenance performed since the inspection lapsed. The pilot was also operating with an expired Medical Certificate.