What happened
On September 29, 2014, at approximately 19:30 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201A, registration PT-GZZ, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft had departed from the "Sete de Setembro" improvised airstrip to apply pesticides over local crops. After completing its fourth application pass, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 250 feet. During this climb, the engine suddenly stopped, forcing the pilot to perform an emergency landing in a nearby rice field.
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, emerged from the incident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system and engine components to identify the cause of the power loss. An inspection of the fuel tanks revealed that more than 80 liters of AVGAS were available, distributed between both tanks. The fuel was drained and found to be of normal color, with no evidence of water or impurities. Furthermore, the fuel lines were clear, and the fuel filter showed no signs of contamination.
On October 20, 2014, a technical inspection was conducted at an engine workshop under the supervision of SERIPA V technicians. The examination included a teardown of the engine to inspect the magnetos, wiring, exhaust system, spark plugs, cylinders, lifters, valve rods, gear case, crankshaft, camshaft, and both mechanical and electric fuel pumps. The technical report indicated that no abnormalities or malfunctions were found in any of the analyzed components.
Findings
- The cause of the engine failure remains undetermined due to the lack of identifiable mechanical or fuel-related defects during the technical inspection.