Incident
A cargo flight departed Vitória en route to São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport. Approximately forty minutes after takeoff, while cruising over the ocean at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the crew heard a metallic noise as oil spread from the engine onto the windshield. The crew reduced altitude and attempted to reach the coast, but due to clouds and limited visibility, they decided to attempt an emergency landing on a beach. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest. The copilot escaped uninjured, while the captain was slightly injured.
Investigation
The investigation determined that the engine failure was probably caused by the failure of a blade on the high-pressure compressor, possibly as a result of a manufacturing defect.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
Probable cause: Engine failure probably caused by the failure of a blade on the high-pressure compressor, possibly as a result of a manufacturing defect. Contributing factors identified include: the crew failed to feather the propeller after the engine failure; the flaps were lowered at an angle that caused a speed reduction; lack of crew coordination; the crew failed to follow strictly the checklist and missed certain points; the crew was flying under IFR mode at the time the engine failed, which aggravated the situation, making it difficult to carry out planned procedures and ruling out an early choice of an emergency landing site; poor visibility due to night impeded a proper choice and planning of the emergency landing procedure.