What happened
On February 7, 1994, an EMB-711T, registration PT-NVN, departed from Três Lagoas, MG, bound for Vila Bela, MT. The flight was intended to be under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), carrying three people. Approximately forty minutes into the flight, while flying above a cloud layer, the engine began operating irregularly.
Seeking to return to the departure point, the pilot encountered heavy fog at the original aerodrome, rendering it unavailable. During the return flight, the aircraft owner, acting as a passenger, requested a landing at a farm in Arapuã, MS. After realizing the farm had been passed, the pilot attempted a new approach but, due to continued engine instability, decided to perform a forced landing on a road under construction.
During the final approach turn, the passenger manually deployed the landing gear. This action created significant drag while the aircraft was at low speed. In an attempt to maintain control and prevent a stall, the pilot leveled the wings, but the aircraft struck trees with the lower fuselage before impacting the ground. The accident resulted in one fatality, one serious injury, and the pilot remained uninjured. The aircraft was a total loss.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the operational decisions made by the crew. Investigators found that the aircraft's annual maintenance inspection (IAM) had expired. Evidence of high oil consumption—approximately one liter per hour—was present, with significant oil staining visible on the lower fuselage.
The investigation also examined the pilot's qualifications and navigation methods. It was established that the pilot was not instrument-rated (IFR) and had departed in weather conditions incompatible with VFR. Navigation was being conducted using a non-certified GPS unit while flying above the clouds, without visual contact with the ground. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot's decision-making was influenced by the passenger's interference regarding landing locations and the manual deployment of the landing gear.
Findings
- Deficient maintenance: The aircraft was flying with an expired annual inspection and exhibited signs of severe engine oil consumption.
- Adverse meteorological conditions: The presence of cloud layers and fog necessitated instrument flight, for which the pilot was not rated.
lack of visual references to the terrain increased navigational risk.
- Flight indiscipline: The pilot operated under VFR in IFR conditions, departed from a non-certified aerodrome, and relied on an unapproved GPS for navigation.
- Passenger interference: The deployment of the landing gear by the passenger during a low-speed turn contributed to the loss of control.