What happened
On November 28, 2021, at approximately 20:30 UTC, a Neiva EMB-202 aircraft, registered as PT-UHE, was conducting a private agricultural flight near Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida II in Paranatinga, Mato Grosso. During the operation, the aircraft experienced an engine failure in flight, causing it to collide with dense vegetation. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that consumed the aircraft. The pilot sustained severe injuries, including burns over 80% of the body, and later passed away in February 2022.
The investigation
The investigation by SERIPA VI faced significant challenges due to the extreme destruction of the wreckage and a lack of cooperation from the aircraft operator. Initial attempts by local police to identify the aircraft's registration via identification plates were unsuccessful because the wreckage was too badly damaged. Investigators were only able to identify the aircraft as PT-UHE through the testimony of the pilot's sister.
While a recovered identification plate listed a serial number that did not match official ANAC records, investigators cross-referenced the data and identified a discrepancy between the recovered number and the official registration for PT-UHE. Furthermore, the investigation could not definitively confirm the aircraft's identity due to the state of the debris. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate had been canceled, as its airworthiness verification certificate had been expired since December 2013. Due to the operator's failure to respond to inquiries and the lack of available maintenance logs, the investigation could not determine the exact weight and balance or the maintenance history of the aircraft.
Findings
- The pilot was properly licensed and held a valid medical certificate.
- The pilot lacked specific experience in the agricultural operation type and the specific aircraft model.
- The propeller blade tips showed deformations consistent with the engine producing little or no power at the time of impact.
- The aircraft was carrying a significant amount of fuel at the time of the crash.
- The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was canceled due to an expired verification certificate.