What happened
On January 11, 2019, at approximately 13:45 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201A agricultural aircraft, registration PT-GYZ, was performing pesticide application over a soybean plantation in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft departed from a local landing strip at Granja Tucumã to conduct spraying operations.
During the mission, the pilot was performing turns to cover the field. While transitioning from a North-South flight path to an East-West path, the pilot encountered overhead power lines. In an attempt to avoid a collision with the electrical wires, the pilot decided to maneuver the aircraft underneath the lines. During this low-altitude maneuver, the aircraft's landing gear struck a furrow in the field, causing a loss of control and resulting in a subsequent impact with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, while the pilot sustained light injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's maneuvers, the aircraft's maintenance status, and operational compliance. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held valid medical and professional licenses, including agricultural pilot ratings. However, it was noted that the pilot was participating in his first harvest season of operation.
The investigation also scrutinized the aircraft's technical documentation. While the aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, the maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe were found to be outdated, specifically lacking monthly flight hour entries since October 2017. Furthermore, the aircraft was operating using hydrated ethyl alcohol as fuel without the required Special Flight Authorization (AEV) mandated by Brazilian civil aviation regulations.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to fly beneath the power lines led to the loss of control.
- Improper pilot judgment during the avoidance maneuver contributed to the accident.
- Inadequate flight planning, as the pilot had not performed a ground reconnaissance of the electrical network layout prior to the flight.
- The pilot's limited experience in the current harvest season was a contributing factor.
- The aircraft was operating with unauthorized fuel type (hydrated ethyl alcohol) without proper regulatory authorization.
- Maintenance records were not kept up to date.