What happened
On February 9, 2014, at approximately 12:17 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201, registration PT-GHZ, was performing an agricultural spraying mission near Fazenda Chupé in Redenção, Pará. The aircraft had departed from the farm at 12:12 UTC for a local flight to apply pesticides.
During the operation, while the pilot was attempting to recover the aircraft following a pass, the right wing struck a tree approximately 20 meters in height. This impact caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, leading to a subsequent impact with the ground. The force of the crash was severe enough to tear the engine mount from the fuselage. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational and maintenance status of the aircraft. Investigators found that while the pilot held valid medical and agricultural pilot certifications, the aircraft's airworthiness certificate had been canceled since October 2003. Furthermore, the annual maintenance inspection had been expired since October 1998.
The investigation also noted significant irregularities regarding the aircraft's documentation and ownership. Maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were unavailable, making it impossible to verify if periodic maintenance had been performed. Additionally, the legal ownership of the aircraft could not be determined, as the registered owner had passed away and no valid transfer documentation was provided by the family.
Findings
- The pilot initiated the pesticide application without performing a prior reconnaissance of the area.
- The right wing collided with a 20-meter tree during a flight maneuver.
- The aircraft was operating with an expired airworthiness certificate and overdue annual maintenance.
- The engine was at reduced power at the time of the final ground impact, as indicated by the propeller blade position.