What happened
On October 1, 2010, an NEIVA EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-UHJ, was conducting agricultural spraying operations near São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul. After departing from the São Borja Aerodrome, the aircraft landed at a temporary strip at Fazenda São Luiz to begin chemical applications.
During the seventh application pass, the pilot noticed a slight fluctuation in fuel flow but continued the operation after adjusting the mixture. However, during the eighth pass, the engine experienced a continuous loss of power that resulted in a total engine failure. The pilot executed a 90-degree turn to the right, maneuvering into the wind to perform a forced landing in a rice field.
While the pilot successfully achieved a three-point landing, the uneven terrain caused by contour lines in the rice field led to the aircraft nose-over (pilonar) just before coming to a complete stop. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the fuel system components, specifically the fuel pump and the fuel injector. While the fuel pump functioned normally during testing, the fuel injector failed to maintain required parameters, cutting out when the engine reached 1,600 RPM.
Subsequent bench testing of the injector revealed that the diaphragm fastening nut was loose and out of adjustment. The investigation noted that the injector had undergone recent maintenance and had been returned to the engine twice following its overhaul, once because it could not maintain an idle setting and again because it could not reach maximum power.