What happened
On November 7, 2004, at approximately 10:10 UTC, an Embraer EMB-201A, registration PT-UEG, departed from the Nossa Senhora do Loreto (SJDU) airstrip for a ferry flight. About three minutes after takeoff, while maintaining an altitude of approximately 500 feet, the pilot detected a strong smell of gasoline inside the cockpit.
In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot opened the left window and attempted to return to the runway. However, dense smoke quickly filled the cabin. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in an open field. Before the aircraft came to a complete stop, the pilot evacuated the cockpit. Following the landing, the aircraft caught fire, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot sustained minor injuries during the event.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and physical components. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance and inspections had been performed in accordance with civil aviation authority regulations, and all documentation, including airworthiness certificates and pilot licenses, were valid. The aircraft was also within weight and balance limits.
Upon inspection of the aircraft components, investigators identified that a fuel system hose was not tightened to the required specifications. This improper securing of the hose allowed fuel to leak onto the left exhaust manifold, which ignited the fire.
Findings
- The primary cause of the fire was a fuel leak caused by a hose that was not tightened according to specifications.
- The leak occurred over the left exhaust, providing the necessary heat source for ignition.
- The aircraft had recently undergone a 50-hour inspection at the operator's facilities, which included cleaning the fuel pump filter. This specific maintenance task required the removal of the hose that was subsequently improperly reinstalled.