Incident
An aerial application aircraft was involved in an incident when a sudden rainstorm forced the pilot to make an emergency landing on a road used as a landing area. The pilot reported that the rain was so heavy that visibility was reduced to only directly beneath the aircraft.
Flight and Weather
While conducting an aerial application flight, a rain storm began abruptly. The heavy rain prompted the pilot to return and land quickly. The pilot stated that the rain intensity was such that he could only see straight down, severely limiting situational awareness.
Ground Crew Communication
The pilot contacted the ground crew and requested assistance in being talked down onto the road. During the landing approach, the ground crew spotted a person on a bicycle and instructed the pilot to "pick up"—meaning to increase altitude to avoid the cyclist.
Collision
In response to the instruction, the pilot attempted to climb. However, the aircraft still carried approximately half of its payload, resulting in insufficient climb performance. The left wing of the aircraft struck the cyclist on the head.
Injuries
The cyclist sustained a serious head injury from the impact. No other injuries were reported.
Aircraft and Operational Factors
The aircraft was engaged in aerial application operations at the time of the incident. The presence of a half-load was noted as a factor in the aircraft's inability to gain altitude quickly. The ground crew's assistance was instrumental in the attempted avoidance maneuver, but the collision occurred despite their efforts.