What happened
On October 14, 2010, at approximately 11:45 local time, a PIPER PA-36 Brave 375, registration EC-EJR, operated by Trabajos Aéreos Espejo, S.L., was performing agricultural spraying operations near Alcora, Castellón. The aircraft had departed from Castellón Aerodrome (LECN) and was conducting its second flight of the day over an orange grove area near the María Cristina reservoir.
During a turn, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power and airspeed. In response, the pilot applied maximum throttle and utilized the emergency lever to jettison the chemical load. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot attempted an emergency landing. During the descent, the aircraft struck the ground with the left wingtip, slid along a path, and tumbled down an embankment (rambla) near the CV-189 road. The aircraft came to a stop 10 meters from the upper edge of the slope. The pilot, who held a commercial pilot license with 2,387 total flight hours, escaped the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the power loss and the execution of the emergency procedure. Investigators examined the Lycoming IO-3720-D1CD engine and its components, including the fuel pump, fuel injection servo, and magnetos. The engine was found to have normal compression, and the fuel injection system was operating within normal parameters. While the fuel pump showed significant wear on the drive shaft teeth, its function remained normal.
Post-accident inspection of the wreckage revealed that the engine, propeller, and engine mount were torn from the airframe upon impact. The propeller blades showed evidence of impact with the ground while the engine was still producing power. The investigation also reviewed the operator's manual, noting that while it covered general agricultural safety, it lacked specific procedures for engine power loss emergencies during low-altitude agricultural maneuvers.