What happened
On May 2, 1998, a Cessna 170B, registration PT-BKP, operated by Fly Propaganda Aérea, departed from Juiz de Fora Airport (SBJF) in Minas Gerais for an aerial advertising mission. The aircraft was engaged in towing an advertising banner. Approximately 90 minutes into the flight, the engine failed while the aircraft was near the Bairro de Fátima area.
The pilot attempted a forced landing on a hillside. During the emergency, the pilot chose not to release the advertising banner, which increased aerodynamic drag. The aircraft struck the uneven terrain with the landing gear, propeller, and fuselage, resulting in severe damage to the aircraft. The pilot survived the impact uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the flight. Post-impact inspections of the engine, fuel tanks, and carburetor revealed they were completely dry, with no evidence of fuel leaks on the ground. The investigation focused on the fuel management practices, the pilot's experience in mountainous terrain, and the operational oversight of the advertising company.
Investigators found that the pilot had been performing similar banner-towing missions primarily in coastal regions, but lacked experience operating in the mountainous terrain of Minas Gerais. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted a lack of precise fuel tracking. The pilot had been performing multiple intermediate refuelings, but due to the billing practices of the local aero club, the exact amount of fuel added was unknown. The pilot planned a two-hour flight despite being uncertain of the remaining fuel reserves.
Findings
- Fuel exhaustion was the primary cause of the engine failure.
- The pilot's decision not to jettison the banner during the emergency significantly increased drag, preventing a more suitable landing site from being reached.
- Inadequate fuel management occurred because the pilot relied on estimated consumption rather than precise measurements, exacerbated by a lack of reliable fuel gauges.
- The pilot lacked specific experience for banner-towing operations in mountainous environments.
- There was a lack of operational supervision from the advertising company, which allowed the pilot to operate autonomously without standardized training or proficiency checks for such missions.
- Financial pressures, stemming from unpaid wages at the pilot's primary employer, influenced the decision to perform extra freelance missions during off-duty periods.