What happened
On March 1, 2020, a G-1-159A, registration N36DA, was performing a private flight from Albrook International Airport in Panama to Viracopos Aerodrome in Brazil. While cruising at FL 450, the aircraft experienced a series of critical system malfunctions. The sequence began with the activation of the "L AC Power" warning light, indicating a failure in the conversion of AC to DC energy on the left side. This was followed by a cabin pressurization failure and eventually culminated in the uncommanded shutdown of both engines.
During the subsequent descent, the crew managed to re-ignite both engines while crossing FL 280. The flight crew diverted the aircraft to Marechal Rondon Aerodrome (SBCY) in Cuiabá, Brazil, where the aircraft landed without further incident. All four occupants—two crewmembers and two passengers—remained unharmed, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the technical cause of the engine flameout and the maintenance status of the aircraft. During field inspections at the Cuiabá airport, investigators observed that the "L AC Power" warning light remained illuminated when the engines were started, confirming the electrical discrepancy noted during the flight.
However, the investigation faced significant obstacles due to a lack of cooperation from the aircraft operator. The operator failed to provide engine or airframe logbooks, maintenance records, or information regarding engine serial numbers and cycles. Furthermore, investigators could not verify the maintenance history of the Rolls-Royce engines installed on the aircraft. CENIPA also noted that the aircraft attempted to depart from Brazilian territory on subsequent dates without providing evidence that the electrical system malfunction had been repaired or that the aircraft had been returned to service.
Findings
- The primary cause of the dual engine flameout remains undetermined due to the lack of available maintenance and technical documentation.
- The operator did not provide records necessary to verify the performance of scheduled or unscheduled maintenance.
- A persistent electrical system discrepancy (AC power failure) was present during the emergency landing and subsequent ground inspections.
- There was a lack of effective oversight regarding the airworthiness of foreign-registered aircraft performing take-offs in Brazil after a serious incident.