Synopsis
On 28 July 2023, a Piper PA-36-375 Brave, registration EC-DMO, was involved in an accident during an agricultural spraying mission near Brunhós, Coimbra, Portugal. The aircraft was operated by Avitrata and departed from an agricultural runway at Quinta da Foja, Montemor-o-Velho. The accident occurred at approximately 09:25 UTC under daylight conditions.
Flight History
The aircraft had started its mission at 06:55 UTC. After the seventh refill, while maneuvering for a second circuit over rice fields, the aircraft experienced a right wing drop aligned with the swath. According to the pilot, the aircraft lost power before reaching the swath line, prompting an emergency release of the chemical load. Following the loss of control with an abrupt right-wing drop, the aircraft struck vegetation and then the ground, rotating over the right-wing tip and coming to rest 180 degrees from its initial trajectory. A post-impact fire ensued.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot egressed the aircraft by his own means and suffered minor injuries, which were mitigated by the seat belts during the abrupt deceleration. The aircraft was destroyed by the collision and subsequent fire. The fuselage primary structure deformed significantly but maintained the pilot's survival space. Spilled chemical product from the partially released hopper created a protective layer against the fire.
Investigation
The GPIAAF was notified at 09:44 and initiated a safety investigation. The investigation team determined that the event had low complexity and limited safety learning. The findings were presented in a summary report format rather than a full ICAO Annex 13 report. No probable cause was explicitly stated in the report.