What happened
On May 24, 1991, an EMB-810 C operated by Trincando Aeritaxi Ltda departed from the Italmagnésio Aerodrome in Várzea da Palma, Minas Gerais, bound for Congonhas, São Paulo. Approximately six minutes into the flight, the pilot observed white smoke and power loss from the left engine. The pilot elected to return to the departure airfield.
During the approach to runway 09, the pilot decided to execute a go-around to avoid potential sun glare during the landing phase. The pilot then transitioned to the traffic pattern for the opposite runway, 27. While maneuvering at a low altitude on the final approach for runway 27, the aircraft entered a stall, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft struck the ground, slid approximately 25 meters, and the left wing collided with a tree. The pilot sustained serious injuries, while the four passengers suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components. Disassembly of the engines revealed that a fuel line extension (PN630.119) on the left engine had failed due to a pre-existing crack and advanced corrosion. This failure caused a loss of fuel flow, leading to the engine shutdown.
Maintenance records showed that a 100-hour inspection had been performed by Cheyenne-Manutenção de Aeronaves only 19 hours prior to the accident. The investigation determined that the inspection was inadequate, as it failed to detect the crack and corrosion in the fuel system components. Additionally, investigators noted that the pilot did not perform the propeller feathering procedure following the engine failure, and the decision to fly the traffic pattern at low altitude with a heavy bank toward the failed engine contributed to the stall.