What happened
On August 27, 1997, an EMB-710, registration PT-NPR, operated by Bacabal Táxi Aéreo Ltda, departed from an uncertified landing strip in Nova Olinda, Maranhão, for a 30-minute scenic flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three passengers. During the initial climb, the pilot noticed an unusual noise from the engine accompanied by the smell of burning.
In an attempt to return to the departure runway, the pilot entered a standard traffic pattern. During the downwind leg, the engine began to lose power intermittently. As the aircraft approached the final approach, the engine failed completely, causing the aircraft to strike the ground approximately 100 meters from the runway threshold. The impact was followed by a massive fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. While the pilot and two passengers escaped with varying degrees of injury, one passenger was unable to exit the aircraft because their seatbelt buckle became jammed, resulting in a fatal outcome due to the rapid spread of the fire.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight. Because the aircraft was destroyed by fire and the debris was moved prior to the investigation, a detailed analysis of the engine components was not possible. However, the investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and the operational environment.
The investigation noted that the aircraft was operating from an uncertified, non-homologated dirt strip that lacked any firefighting infrastructure. The pilot's actions during the emergency were also scrutinized, specifically the decision to perform a standard traffic pattern rather than an immediate landing on the opposite end of the runway, and the failure to follow emergency checklists regarding engine shutdown and fuel cutoff.