What happened
On November 23, 2017, at approximately 20:50 UTC, a Cessna 210L, registration PT-JMQ, was performing a private flight from Fazenda Água Azul to Itaituba Airport in Pará, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers. During the descent phase, while cruising at 4,500 feet, the engine suddenly failed. Following the loss of power, the aircraft struck a tree and impacted the ground in a forested area near the Baixão Bonito community. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the three passengers were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators faced significant challenges due to the delayed notification of the accident, having learned of the event through the press 24 hours after it occurred. Furthermore, the investigation site had been disturbed; by the time authorities arrived two days later, the aircraft had been partially dismantled, and critical components, including the engine and propeller, had been removed without authorization. This movement of wreckage was reportedly driven by local residents attempting to prevent the looting of the aircraft.
Despite these obstacles, investigators analyzed the Teledyne Continental IO-520-L(5) engine, the fuel system, and the ignition system. Maintenance records indicated the engine had undergone a major overhaul in June 2017 and was within its operational limits. Tests conducted by an ANAC-certified facility found no mechanical or electrical abnormalities in the engine, magnetos, or fuel delivery components. Fuel samples from the last refueling station were also found to be within parameters. While the logbook lacked specific fuel entries for the day of the accident, calculations suggested sufficient fuel was on board at the time of the failure.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred during the descent phase of flight.
- The pilot attempted two in-flight restart procedures, including switching fuel tanks, but was unsuccessful.
- Improper execution of emergency procedures was considered a possibility, as there was no evidence that the aircraft's checklist was utilized, and local pilot interviews suggested such checklists were not commonly used in the region.
- There was a hypothesis that the engine may have flooded during the attempted in-flight restarts.
- The investigation could not definitively rule out fuel contamination due to the inability to collect fuel samples from the wreckage.