What happened
On November 27, 2015, a Cessna 152, registration PR-EJV, was conducting a local flight training mission consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers near Jundiaí, São Paulo. The flight was operated by EJ Escola de Aeronáutica Ltda. for the purpose of student instruction.
During the fourth and final circuit of the training session, approximately 40 minutes into the flight, the engine failed. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and executed an emergency forced landing on the SP-348 highway (Rodovia dos Bandeirantes). Upon impacting the ground, the aircraft collided with roadside signage. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wingtip and aileron, along with dents on the leading edges of both wings. Both the instructor and the student survived the accident without injuries.
The investigation
The investigation by CENIPA focused on the fuel state of the aircraft and the pre-flight procedures. Investigators found that while the aircraft had been fully refueled on November 22, it had performed several flights totaling 3 hours and 40 minutes of flight time between the last refueling and the accident. Based on an average consumption rate of 22 liters per hour, the aircraft likely began its final flight with only about 14 liters of usable fuel, providing roughly 38 minutes of endurance.
Upon inspection, investigators found 6 liters of AVGAS remaining in the left tank, while the right tank was completely empty. The investigation also revealed that the student performed the pre-flight inspection without the required supervision from the instructor, which violated the flight school's training manual. Furthermore, the school's internal checklist for fuel verification differed from the manufacturer's manual, relying on fuel gauges rather than the visual physical checks required by the aircraft's manual.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
- The instructor relied on an intuitive visual estimation of fuel levels rather than a precise measurement.
- The flight school's internal checklist was inconsistent with the aircraft manufacturer's manual regarding fuel verification procedures.
- The instructor failed to supervise the student's pre-flight inspection, demonstrating a complacent attitude.
- Contributing factors included errors in flight planning, decision-making, and pilot judgment.