What happened
On February 12, 2021, an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration PP-PNM, was performing an agricultural spraying mission at Fazenda Desafio in São Desidério, Bahia. The aircraft was conducting its fourth takeoff of the day from a private unpaved airstrip.
During the takeoff roll, as the aircraft reached a speed of 40 knots, the pilot experienced a sudden yaw to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation using the left pedal and brakes with maximum deflection; however, the aircraft continued to veer off the runway. The aircraft exited the right side of the strip, with the propeller blades striking the adjacent soybean crops approximately 200 meters from the start of the takeoff roll. The aircraft eventually came to a stop 400 meters from the initial takeoff point, perpendicular to the runway axis. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically to the propeller, the left main landing gear, and the left wing, but the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial and agricultural licenses, as well as a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was also in compliance with all airworthiness requirements, with updated maintenance logs and operating within proper weight and balance limits.
Investigators noted that the takeoff strip was narrow, measuring only 20 meters in width, which left a very small margin of error given the aircraft's wingspan of 15.80 meters. At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions were clear, though a 10-knot crosswind from the right was present. The investigation focused on the pilot's control inputs and the physical constraints of the runway during the high-speed portion of the takeoff roll.