What happened
On June 11, 2003, an EMB-820 Navajo, registration PT-EHH, operated by Astro Táxi Aéreo, departed Pampulha Airport (SBBH) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, bound for Juiz de Fora. The aircraft was transporting two passengers and a cargo of valuables. Approximately 35 nautical miles from the departure airport, the crew experienced a drop in oil pressure and an oil leak in the right engine. The pilot decided to return to Pampulha.
During the approach to runway 13, the pilot reported intentions to perform a 3-60-degree turn to better align with the final approach. While executing this turn, the aircraft entered a nose-down attitude, leading to a collision with the ground. The impact destroyed a concrete wall and caused the aircraft to catch fire, resulting in the deaths of both the crew and the two passengers.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the engines. Although the engines were operational at impact, they were not producing sufficient power. The investigation identified a ruptured oil hose in the right engine, which likely caused the oil leak and subsequent power loss. The investigation also noted that the engines showed signs of being near or past their Time Between Overhaul (TBO) limits.
Regarding the crew, the investigation found that the commander was performing his first flight in the role of commander for the company, and the co-pilot was performing his first flight for the operator and his first flight in this aircraft type. The operator lacked a formal training or adaptation program for the crew members. Furthermore, the operator could not provide maintenance records or flight logs, as the original documents were destroyed in the fire.
Findings
- Reduced pilot experience and high anxiety during the engine emergency contributed to a loss of situational awareness and control.
- Inadequate supervision and training by the operator, which failed to provide specific type-training or an adaptation program for the crew.
- Improper execution of maneuvers, as the crew allowed the aircraft to lose control during the repositioning turn.
- Maintenance deficiencies were suspected due to the ruptured oil hose and the lack of available maintenance documentation.
- Operational failures by the operator, including a lack of oversight regarding pilot experience and the absence of maintenance record backups.