What happened
On February 3, 2024, at approximately 09:20 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201A, registration PT-UCK, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Fazenda Ipanema in Correntina, Bahia. The aircraft, operated by Aero Agrícola Cambará Ltda., was executing its second pass on the first strip of a field.
Following a right-hand reversal turn (a maneuver known locally as a "balão"), the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 10 meters. In an attempt to align the aircraft for the next pass, the pilot commanded a left wing bank. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a loss of lift, leading to a loss of control and a subsequent impact with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial licenses and medical certification, with significant experience in the aircraft type. The aircraft's maintenance records, including the Certificate of Airworthiness, were up to date, and the aircraft was within its proper weight and balance limits at the time of the accident.
Investigators examined the flight manual, which specifies that the aircraft's stall speed increases when operating in a "clean" configuration with high bank angles. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions regarding flap deployment. The pilot attempted to extend the flaps from 20 to 8 degrees during the loss of lift, a move that investigators noted may have increased drag and contributed to the inability to recover the aircraft at such a low altitude.
Findings
- The pilot executed a bank angle exceeding the operational limits established in the aircraft's operating manual, specifically regarding the parameters for an aircraft equipped with agricultural equipment.
- Inadequate application of flight controls and improper maneuvering contributed to the loss of lift.
- The pilot's decision-making and judgment were compromised by an overreliance on empirical sensations rather than strict adherence to flight instruments and manual parameters.
- The investigation noted a pattern of overconfidence, where the pilot's tendency to overestimate personal skills and underestimate operational risks led to the failure to recognize the imminence of a stall.