What happened
On February 6, 2001, a PIPER PA-36-375, registration EC-DOA, was performing agricultural spraying operations at a farm in the municipality of Paterna de Rivera, Cádiz. The aircraft was operating from a temporary 500-meter dirt strip. During the sixth flight of the day, the aircraft took off heading west, carrying a 600 kg load of solid fertilizer.
After reaching an altitude of approximately 10 meters, the pilot initiated a right turn toward the target field. During this maneuver, the aircraft began to lose altitude and airspeed. The pilot performed an emergency release of the fertilizer load and increased the right bank angle to avoid a 6-meter-tall tower located near the end of the runway. While the left wing's leading edge avoided the tower, the left aileron struck the top of the structure and was torn off.
The aircraft continued to descend, impacting the ground approximately 100 meters beyond the tower. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce and subsequently roll onto its right wing. The aircraft slid across the terrain and came to rest in a nearby stream, rotating approximately 90 degrees during the process.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance capabilities, weight and balance, and the sequence of impacts. The aircraft had been modified from a PA-300 to a PA-375 with a more powerful Lycoming engine. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was within its maximum takeoff weight limits and properly centered.
Investigators analyzed the takeoff distance and wind conditions. While the pilot reported a normal takeoff, the investigation determined that the aircraft likely took off with a tailwind. This condition would have required nearly the entire length of the runway, resulting in a low-speed takeoff. As the aircraft climbed, the ground effect diminished, and the lack of airspeed prevented further altitude gain.
Findings
- The aircraft likely departed with a tailwind, resulting in a takeoff roll that utilized nearly the entire available runway.
- The aircraft was operating at a low airspeed as it transitioned out of ground effect.
- The pilot's maneuver to avoid the tower caused the left aileron to strike the tower structure.
- The loss of the left aileron compromised roll control, contributing to the subsequent impact and roll during the ground excursion.