Piper PA 36-300 EC-HKV Accident in Puebla del Río, Spain

Incident Overview and Flight Details On the morning of August 28, 2001, a Piper PA 36-300 aircraft, registered as EC-HKV, was conducting aerial fumigation operations over a rice plantation in the Vega de la Puebla area within the municipality of Puebla del Río, in the province of Sevilla, Spain. The aircraft was operated by ADEFA, S. A., and was flying from a temporary airstrip prepared on the same agricultural property. The flight was being conducted by a single pilot. ## Operational Environment and Weather Conditions The operational area was intersected by two nearly parallel high-voltage power lines situated at different altitudes between the temporary airstrip and the fumigation zone. According to the operator's personnel, weather conditions at the time of the accident were calm with no wind, unlimited visibility, and a temperature of 25 °C. The temporary runway used for operations measured approximately 800 meters in length and 15 meters in width, oriented ENE-WSW. ## Sequence of Events and Impact At approximately 09:15 local time, after completing four or five passes over the power lines, the aircraft was returning to the airstrip. While turning to the left and flying over the two power lines, the left wing of the aircraft struck the cables of the second, higher line. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into the ground, striking with its right wing and nose. The wreckage came to rest in a flooded, rice-planted field, with the left wing pointing upward, the right wing bent backward, and the nose rotated toward the tail. ## Damage and Injuries The collision with the power lines and the subsequent ground impact resulted in significant damage to the aircraft. One of the electrical transmission cables was broken, and the two nearest metal support towers sustained damage. The pilot, a 32-year-old Spanish national holding a commercial pilot license, sustained chest injuries that caused internal organ contusions. The pilot required hospitalization and took six months to recover. At the time of the accident, the pilot was wearing a protective helmet and a fireproof suit, and was secured by the seat harness. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Information The Piper PA 36-300, manufactured in 1973 with serial number 36-7360047, had a maximum takeoff weight of 1,996 kg. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine rated at 300 HP. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate, issued on June 12, 2000, and renewed on March 29, 2001, was valid for special restricted use in aerial work, with a technical condition noted as normal and suitable only for visual flight. The aircraft had accumulated 4,356 total flight hours, with its last 100-hour inspection completed on February 28, 2001. The engine had 3,098 total flight hours, with its last 100-hour inspection also completed on February 28, 2001.