What happened
On March 13, 2022, at approximately 15:10 UTC, a Neiva EMB 202, registration PT-UNT, was performing a takeoff from an agricultural landing strip in the rural area of Pompéu, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The aircraft was operated by Aviação Agrícola Alagoana Ltda for the purpose of aerial spraying.
During the initial climb segment, the aircraft began a descent, striking a tree approximately 300 meters from the far end of the runway. Following this impact, the aircraft continued to collide with ground obstacles for about 55 meters before coming to a final stop. The pilot survived the accident without injuries, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits, with a total takeoff weight of 1,727 kg. The pilot was fully qualified with valid medical and agricultural licenses. Meteorological conditions were favorable for flight, and no mechanical failures were reported during the takeoff roll.
The investigation focused on the pilot's manual handling of the aircraft's flaps. The pilot reported starting the takeoff roll with the flaps at 0° to reduce drag, later moving them to 20°. However, the manufacturer's Operating Manual (MO) specifically requires a 8° setting for both normal and minimum ground roll takeoffs.
Furthermore, the pilot reported that after noticing a loss of altitude, they attempted to jettison the agricultural payload but struggled to reach the emergency lever due to its proximity to the flap controls. In the process, the pilot inadvertently moved the flaps to the 30° (full) position. While wreckage analysis confirmed the emergency lever had indeed been activated and the hopper was empty, the movement of the flaps to 30° significantly increased aerodynamic drag, further degrading the aircraft's performance during a critical phase of flight.
Findings
- The pilot utilized flap settings (0° and 20°) that deviated from the manufacturer's prescribed 8° takeoff configuration.
- The movement of the flaps to 30° during the climb increased drag and aggravated the aircraft's precarious flight conditions.
- The pilot's decision-making and application of controls contributed to the loss of altitude.
- The proximity of the emergency jettison lever to the flap controls created ergonomic difficulty during a high-workload phase.