Factual Information
On 19 July 2020, at 20:42 local time, an Air Tractor AT-802, registration EC-HMD, was conducting a takeoff from runway 25 at the Quinto de Don Pedro firefighting base in Los Yébenes, Toledo. The aircraft had previously landed at 20:35 after a firefighting mission and was awaiting instructions. It then began a takeoff for another water drop. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered to the right and exited the runway, coming to rest on the parking apron.
Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's propeller, wings, and landing gear. The left main landing gear leg was observed to be broken.
Injuries
The sole occupant, the pilot, was uninjured.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was an Air Tractor AT-802, serial number 802-0088, manufactured in 1999. It was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 3204.5 flight hours, and the engine had 1954.5 hours of operation. The last Airworthiness Review Certificate was issued on 28 May 2020, valid until 8 June 2021.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 49, held a Commercial Pilot License (CPL(A)) issued by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) on 14 April 1993. His ratings included AT-4/5/6/8 SET (valid until 31 May 2022), SEP(land) (valid until 30 June 2021), CL65, IR(A), FI, and a certificate for water dropping, observation, and patrol in the Air Tractor AT-802/802A (issued 9 July 2020, valid for 12 months). He had a Class 1 medical certificate with a four-month extension due to COVID-19 exemptions. His total flight experience was 8330 hours, including 3000 hours on the accident type.
Meteorological Information
The nearest weather station reported an average wind of 14 km/h and a maximum of 28 km/h, both from the west, around the time of the accident. Visibility was good, and there were no clouds.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by a loss of control of the aircraft during the takeoff roll.