Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia: История и Особенности

Commuter airliner by Embraer

The Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia is a twin turboprop 30 passenger commuter airliner designed and manufactured by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The EMB 120 began development during 1974. While initially conceived as a modular series of aircraft, the Family 12X and referred to as the Araguaia, intending to achieve a high level of commonality with the EMB 121 Xingu, the aircraft was redesigned and relaunched with the Brasilia name scheme during 1979. The redesign, which drew on operator feedback, reduced the seating capacity somewhat while removing commonality with the EMB 121. Its size, speed, and ceiling enabled faster and more direct services to be flown in comparison to similar aircraft. The EMB 120 features a circular cross section fuselage, low mounted straight wings and has a T tail. On 27 July 1983, the prototype performed its maiden flight. During October 1985, the first EMB 120 entered service with Atlantic Southeast Airlines; it quickly entered service with numerous regional airlines, particularly those in the lucrative US market. While the majority of sales were made to civilian operators, a few military customers were also garnered for the type; a specialised VIP transport version, the VC 97, was operated by the Brazilian Air Force. Numerous models were developed to fulfil differing roles and requirements; these included the flexible EMB120 Convertible and the extended range EMB120ER. During 2001, production of the EMB 120 was terminated; it was the last turboprop powered airliner to be produced by Embraer.

Following on from the success of the EMB 110 Bandeirante, Embraer commenced work on developing their first transport category airliner in 1974. At one point, this cumulated in the Family 12X, which comprised three models with modular design concept: EMB 120 Araguaia, EMB 123 Tapajós and EMB 121 Xingu. At the official launching of the project, held in 1979, the name Brasilia was first applied to the EMB 120. During 2001, production of the EMB 120 was terminated. As of 2021, Embraer has not manufactured a turboprop powered successor, although company executives have occasionally hinted at there being interest in doing so at some point.

On 19 September 1986, an Atlantic Southeast Airlines EMB 120RT (N219AS) struck a mountain near Mantiqueira, Brazil while being delivered to Atlantic Southeast, killing all five on board. On 21 December 1987, an EMB 120 Brazilia operated by Air Littoral for Air France (flight AF 1919 Brussels Bordeaux) crashed in a forest during a wrong approach of Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (South West of France). All 16 occupants died. On 8 July 1988, Brazilian Air Force EMB 120RT Brasília FAB 2001 crashed during an engine out landing at São José dos Campos. Five of the nine occupants died. On 5 April 1991, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311, operating for Delta Connection, crashed on approach to Glynco Jetport in Brunswick, Georgia. The crash claimed the lives of all twenty three people on board, including former U. S. Senator John Tower of Texas and astronaut Sonny Carter. This was due to propeller control failure which led to incorrect propeller blade angles. On 11 September 1991, Continental Express Flight 2574 broke up in flight and crashed at Eagle Lake, Texas, killing all 14 passengers and crew members onboard. The NTSB determined that missing screws on the horizontal stabilizer led to part of it detaching from the aircraft. On 21 August 1995, one of the blades on Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529's number one propeller sheared off, partly tearing the left engine from its mount and increasing drag on the left side. It crashed in a field near Carrollton, Georgia. Of the twenty nine people on board, ten died (one casualty was from a heart attack nearly eight weeks after the accident). On 9 January 1997, Comair Flight 3272 crashed in Monroe, Michigan. All of the 29 passengers and crew died. The probable cause was in flight icing. On 21 May 1997, SkyWest Airlines Flight 724, an EMB 120 (N198SW), experienced a total loss of engine power to the right engine and associated engine fire, followed by a total loss of all airplane hydraulic systems, after takeoff from San Diego International Lindbergh Field, San Diego, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The two pilots, one flight attendant, and 14 passengers were not injured. The flight was destined for Los Angeles, California. It diverted to NAS Miramar, San Diego, where it landed at 14:27 hrs. On 21 October 1998, a Capital Táxi Aéreo EMB 120RT Brasilia registration PT WKH crashed due to pilot error during final approach to Pinto Martins International Airport. The two man crew and one passenger on board were killed, along with one person on the ground. Seven more people were injured. On 30 August 2002, Rico Linhas Aéreas Flight 4823 operated by an EMB 120ER Brasília (registration PT WRQ), en route from Cruzeiro do Sul and Tarauacá to Rio Branco crashed on approach to Rio Branco during a rainstorm, 1,5 km short of the runway. Of the 31 passengers and crew aboard, 23 died. On 14 May 2004, Rico Linhas Aéreas Flight 4815 operated by an EMB 120ER Brasília (registration PT WRO), en route from São Paulo de Olivença and Tefé to Manaus, crashed in the forest about from Manaus. All 33 passengers and crew died in the deadliest accident involving the EMB 120. On 22 March 2010, an Airnorth EMB 120 (VH ANB) took off approximately 10.10am (ACST) from Darwin International Airport on a routine simulated engine failure training exercise known as a V1 cut when it apparently banked sharply to the left and crashed into the nearby bushland at RAAF Base Darwin. The two pilots on board were killed instantly. On 14 September 2011, Angolan Air Force EMB 120ER T 500 crashed while attempting to take off from Huambo Airport, killing 17 of 23 people on board. On 12 October 2011, a Nationale Regionale Transport EMB 120, registration ZS PYO (MSN: 120245) performing a charter flight from Libreville to Port Gentil (Gabon) overran runway 21 and came to a stop with the nose gear intact, both main gear struts bent backwards causing the engines to "pitch down" together with the wings. A few passengers sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off. On 27 November 2012, an Inter Îles Air EMB 120ER Brasilia (registration number D6 HUA) was underway from Moroni to Anjouan (both in Comoros Islands) on a charter flight with 25 passengers and 4 crew, when after taking off from Moroni's Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport it lost height, and while attempting to return to the airport, waterlanded off the coast, about 5 km north of the airport. Local fishermen rescued everybody on board. There were only minor injuries, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off. On 3 October 2013, Associated Aviation Flight 361, an EMB 120RT (5N BJY), was involved in a crash on takeoff from Lagos Airport bound for Akure. The aircraft was on a charter flight taking the body of the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, for burial. There were at least 16 reported fatalities amongst passengers travelling in the burial party. Two people who survived the crash died later in hospital. On 12 October 2017, an Air Guicango EMB 120 (D2 FDO) crashed en route from Dundo to Luanda (both in Angola). Crew declared engine failure and fire prior to losing radio contact. The wreckage was located the following day with no survivors. On 4 May 2020, an African Express Airways EMB 120 (5Y AXO), operating a flight to Baidoa from Mogadishu, was reportedly shot down by a rocket in Somalia. This aircraft was carrying medical aids to fight COVID 19. A total of six people on board died after crash landing near Bardale. On 11 July 2023, Halla Airlines EMB 120 (6O AAD), operating a domestic flight from Garowe to Mogadishu, veered off runway 05 on landing at Aden Adde International Airport and crashed into a fence. All 34 people onboard survived. On 28 November 2023, Unity Air Zanzibar EMB 120 (5H MJH), operating a domestic flight from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, veered off runway on landing at Kikoboga Airstrip, sustaining substential damage. All 33 occupants survived unharmed. On 28 November 2023, Sindbar Air EMB 120 (5H FLM) operating a domestic flight from Mikumi National Park, Tanzania to Zanzibar, veered off runway on take off at Kikoboga Airstrip and crashed into a building, sustaining substential damage. All 34 occupants survived unharmed.

PT ZBA 120001 Brasília's first prototype, preserved at the Brazilian Airspace Memorial at the entrance of São José dos Campos airport and Embraer plant.