What happened
On the morning of July 4, 2020, a Grumman G-164B Ag Cat, registration EC-EDP, was performing a scheduled agricultural flight to distribute fertilizer over rice fields. The aircraft, operated by SAASA, was departing from the temporary Reboso airfield in Puebla del Río, Seville.
Following a standard pre-flight inspection and engine warm-up, the pilot aligned the aircraft on the runway for takeoff. While climbing through approximately 30 feet, the pilot noticed that the aircraft failed to accelerate and began to lose altitude due to a lack of power. With no remaining runway available, the pilot executed an emergency landing on a dirt road located at the end of the runway.
Although the initial ground contact was smooth, the aircraft traveled approximately 50 meters along the path before the left wing struck several trees. This impact caused the aircraft to pivot 90 degrees to the left and come to a halt in an embankment, with the nose dipping into a parallel irrigation canal. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, exited the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine's performance and the aircraft's operational history. Investigators noted that the engine, a Pratt & Whitney R985 radial, was nearing its overhaul limit, with only 58 flight hours remaining before a required major overhaul. Furthermore, the aircraft had experienced very low activity levels in the years preceding the accident.
Due to a delay in reporting the accident and the fact that the engine was submerged in water for several hours, a detailed mechanical examination of the engine components could not be performed. The investigation also noted that the maintenance provider declined to assist with a detailed engine teardown, suggesting the functional failure was a natural consequence of the aircraft's age and condition.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the emergency landing on a road extension necessitated by a partial engine power loss during the takeoff phase.
- The specific mechanical cause of the power loss could not be determined due to the unavailability of the engine for testing.
- The aircraft had been subject to long periods of inactivity prior to the event.
- The engine was operating with low reliability due to being near its maximum flight hour limit for overhaul.