What happened
On January 16, 2022, at approximately 16:45 UTC, a Thrush S2R-H80 agricultural aircraft, registration PP-CRA, crashed during its first takeoff of the afternoon at Fazenda Vale, located in São Félix do Araguaia, Mato Grosso. The aircraft was performing an aerial application mission, carrying 1,440 liters of agricultural product.
After lifting off from the unpaved runway, the aircraft experienced a loss of lift, leading to a collision with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial licenses and sufficient flight experience in the aircraft type. The aircraft was in an airworthy condition, with all maintenance records up to date, and was operating within its approved weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable, with clear skies and temperatures around 30°C.
Technical analysis of the flight parameters revealed that the aircraft was operating near its maximum takeoff weight. While the runway length was sufficient for a safe takeoff, the investigation focused on the pilot's actions immediately following liftoff. The pilot reported retracting the flaps from 15° to the up position shortly after leaving the ground, which was below the recommended speed specified in the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
Findings
- The pilot prematurely retracted the flaps before reaching the recommended airspeed.
- Following flap retraction, the pilot initiated a slight left turn and simultaneously reduced engine power.
- These actions caused the aircraft to reach a stall condition, triggering visual and audible stall warnings.
- The pilot's subsequent flight control inputs, including an attempt to recover by pitching down to gain speed followed by a sudden pitch-up command, contributed to the loss of control in flight.