Accident Description
On a charter flight from Miranda-Estância Caimam Airfield to Campo Grande, a twin-engine airplane departed at 0915 local time with seven passengers and two pilots. Approximately 35 minutes into the flight, while 79 kilometers from the destination under good weather conditions, the left engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and could not maintain a safe altitude, prompting a decision to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly-landed in an agricultural area, slid for a few dozen meters, and came to rest. All nine occupants sustained minor injuries, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause and Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was failure of the left engine in flight due to fuel exhaustion. Additionally, several findings were identified:
- The fuel tanks in the left wing were empty, while 320 liters of fuel remained in the right wing fuel tanks.
- The crew could not maintain altitude because they were unable to feather the left propeller.
- The pilots were misled by a false indication from the fuel gauge coupled to the left wing tank, which displayed a value while the tank was actually empty. This error resulted from the fuel sensors for the left wing tanks being installed inverted.
- The aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident due to several defects.
- The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) was not up to date.
- The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was unserviceable.
- The automatic propeller feathering system was out of service.
- Bad contact existed with the right wing fuel sensor connector plug.
- The pilots failed to follow the published procedures related to an engine failure.
- Poor flight preparation and crew complacency were noted.
- The operator’s crew training program was inadequate.
- There was a lack of supervision on the part of the operator.