What happened
On December 6, 2000, an EMB-710C, registration PT-NBU, was performing a test flight in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, following corrective maintenance. Shortly after rotation, at an altitude of approximately 30 feet, the engine experienced a significant loss of power accompanied by a drop in fuel pressure and a strong smell of gasoline.
The pilot attempted an emergency landing on the takeoff runway, approximately 1,500 meters from the threshold. During the landing, the aircraft struck uneven terrain, causing the left landing gear to collapse. While the crew initially managed to suppress a small fire near the engine using an onboard extinguisher, a secondary fire ignited in the dry grass beneath the aircraft. The fire eventually reached the fuel tanks, causing an explosion that resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Both occupants escaped the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the engine, propeller, and fuel system. The inspection of the engine revealed that the carburetor and crankcase were destroyed by fire, and components such as the cylinders, magneto, and fuel pump were heavily damaged by heat. The propeller was found to have struck the ground in a non-power-producing configuration, consistent with the engine failure.
Regarding the maintenance history, the investigation found that the aircraft had been brought in for repairs due to a significant fuel leak. Although the maintenance facility released the aircraft for the test flight, there were no records of operational ground or flight tests following the repairs. Discrepancies were noted between the crew's account of using a non-approved fuel hose and the workshop's claim of merely tightening a connection. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted that the pilot in command had only 20 minutes of experience in this specific aircraft type and had not flown for six months, while the passenger held an expired medical certificate.
Findings
- Deficient maintenance regarding the fuel system, which failed to prevent a recurrence of the previously reported leak during the takeoff roll.
- Deficient judgment by the passenger/pilot, who entrusted the aircraft to an inexperienced pilot and assumed they could manage a critical emergency if necessary.
- Deficient planning and crew composition, involving a pilot with minimal experience in the aircraft type and a passenger with an invalid medical certificate.
- Deficient supervision by both the aircraft owner and the maintenance facility, specifically regarding the lack of oversight for repairs and the absence of required operational testing.
- Lack of experience by the pilot in command, which delayed the identification of the engine failure and prevented an aborted takeoff attempt.