What happened
On February 5, 2014, a Piper PA-25-235 agricultural aircraft, registered as PR-GLP, was performing aerial spraying operations over a banana plantation in a rural area of Garuva, Santa Catarina. The aircraft had departed from a temporary landing strip to apply pesticides.
During the third flight of the day, the pilot executed a long spray run while climbing near a hilly area. During this climb, the aircraft lost lift. Although the pilot applied full power and the engine responded correctly without any signs of mechanical failure, the aircraft could not maintain altitude. In an attempt to avoid trees ahead, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn, but the aircraft ultimately collided with the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the engine, propeller, fuselage, and wings. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation focused on the operational circumstances and the maintenance records of the aircraft. Investigators found that while the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid, the physical documents were not on board. Furthermore, the maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date, with the last entries recorded in April 2013.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning, as the pilot failed to account for the aircraft's performance capabilities.
- Failure to properly evaluate the terrain characteristics, specifically the mountainous nature of the operational area.
- Lack of managerial supervision.
- Deficiencies in pilot judgment during the maneuver.
Safety action
CENIPA issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to intensify the level of oversight regarding agricultural flight operations. This recommendation stems from the high frequency of accidents in this sector caused by pilots failing to observe manufacturer-defined operational limits and a lack of effective managerial supervision.