What happened
On January 24, 2019, at approximately 09:30 UTC, an Air Tractor AT-402B, registration PR-DFA, was performing agricultural spraying operations at Fazenda Boa Sorte (SSBW) in Sidrolando, Mato Grosso. The aircraft was engaged in a "finishing" maneuver, applying pesticides to the edges of the application area, when it struck an electrical power line.
Following the impact, the pilot maintained control of the aircraft and performed an emergency landing on a nearby dirt road. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot emerged from the incident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid medical and agricultural flight certifications, with significant experience in both total flight hours and the specific aircraft model. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, characterized by calm winds and clear skies.
An examination of the flight records revealed that the mission had been planned in advance. An operational report identified the presence of obstacles, including the power lines, in the application area. However, the investigation noted that the pilot had not signed this specific report. While the operator maintained risk management protocols for landing strips, there was no specific risk management documentation established for the application areas themselves.
Technical inspections of the Air Tractor AT-402B showed that the engine, propeller, and airframe were in good condition, with all maintenance logs up to date. The aircraft was also within its proper weight and balance limits, and no mechanical failures were identified as contributing to the collision.
Findings
- Inadequate pilot judgment regarding the flight path, specifically choosing a trajectory perpendicular to the power lines.
- A potential reduction in situational awareness or attention due to the repetitive nature of the task.
- The presence of known obstacles in the flight area that were identified in planning documents but not mitigated by specific risk management for the application zones.