What happened
On June 21, 2005, at approximately 06:30 UTC, a Grumman G-164A AGHCAT, registration CS-APY, attempted to take off from a private airstrip at Herdade do Pinheiro, near Alcácer do Sal, Portugal. The aircraft was configured for an agricultural mission to fertilize a nearby rice field.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient airspeed. Although the aircraft briefly lifted off and reached an altitude of approximately 3 meters, it immediately lost altitude and struck the ground 80 meters beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft's left main landing gear left tracks on the terrain before the aircraft collided with a shed. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees and come to rest 40 meters beyond the collision point, nose-down. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and was destroyed. The pilot managed to escape the burning wreckage but sustained serious burns to the face, arms, and torso.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the aircraft's performance during the takeoff phase and the configuration of the engine components. Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the propeller was set to a coarse pitch position at the time of the accident.
Standard operating procedures for this type of aircraft dictate that takeoffs and landings should be performed with the propeller in a fine pitch setting, with the variable pitch adjusted to a constant RPM only during climb and cruise phases. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot held all necessary valid documentation and that the aircraft was properly loaded with the required chemical products for the agricultural task.