What happened
On October 13, 2001, an EMB-810C Sêneca, registration PT-EVF, operated by Continental Táxi Aéreo Ltda., crashed in the Amazon rainforest near Altamira, Brazil. The flight originated from Humaitá, carrying a pilot and five passengers, with the intention of reaching Altamira.
Prior to departure, the crew noted a significant fuel imbalance between the wings. The left wing contained approximately 50 liters, while the right wing held roughly 200 liters. Approximately 33 minutes into the flight, the left engine failed. The pilot attempted an in-flight restart using the crossfeed system; however, during this procedure, the right engine also failed. The aircraft entered a glide and collided with trees in the forest during the night. The impact resulted in three fatalities (the pilot and two passengers) and one serious injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system and found that the fuel imbalance was caused by a leak between the wings. Inspections of the fuel selector valves revealed that the left engine's valve was missing a sealing gasket and had a deteriorated remaining gasket, while the right engine's valve also had a deteriorated gasket. This allowed fuel to migrate from the left wing to the right wing while the aircraft was parked on an incline.
The investigation also revealed that the pilot was flying with an expired IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) rating and was operating without the second pilot required by RBHA 1ary 135 regulations for this type of operation. Furthermore, the aircraft's maintenance logs had been lost in the accident, though a previous inspection had noted several discrepancies, including an inoperable stall detector and improper DME installation.
Findings
- Fuel Imbalance and Maintenance: Deteriorated gaskets in the fuel selector valves allowed fuel to flow between wings, leading to the initial engine failure due to fuel starvation in the left engine.
- Operational Non-compliance: The flight was conducted in violation of regulations, as the pilot lacked a valid IFR rating and the required second pilot was not on board.
- Pilot Performance: The pilot experienced a state of panic and high anxiety following the first engine failure, which compromised decision-making and the ability to successfully execute the in-flight restart.
- Management Oversight: The operator's management demonstrated complacency by allowing the flight to proceed despite known fuel imbalances and the pilot's lack of proper qualifications.
- Emergency Procedures: The pilot failed to conduct an emergency briefing for the passengers, which likely contributed to the fatalities during the impact.