Incident Overview
On August 3, 2006, at 17:15 local time, an Air Tractor AT-802A amphibious aircraft with registration EC-JKI experienced a serious accident while conducting firefighting operations. The incident occurred at the Guadalest reservoir in Alicante, Spain. The aircraft was operated by FAASA and was engaged in commercial aerial firefighting activities.
Operational Context
The flight originated from Valencia Airport for a fire suppression mission near Játiva. Mid-flight, the mission was cancelled, and the aircraft was redirected to Sierra Aitana. Upon arrival, the pilot coordinated with other aerial assets and was directed to load water at the Guadalest reservoir due to its proximity and sufficient water levels. This was the pilot's first time operating at this specific location.
Sequence of Events
The pilot performed a manual water loading run, following the trajectory of preceding aircraft from northwest to southeast. Upon initial contact with the water, the aircraft experienced a sudden yaw to the right, causing it to drift toward the shore. The right float struck the terrain and broke off. Although the pilot managed to steer the aircraft back into the reservoir and increased engine power for takeoff, the aircraft capsized. The propeller impacted the water and was destroyed.
Post-Accident Findings
The pilot remained unharmed and was rescued by a coordinating helicopter minutes later. The aircraft came to rest inverted against the bank with significant structural damage. Both floats were detached. Investigation revealed that the water scoops were closed and undamaged, while the flight controls remained free-moving. The rudder cables were severed due to the detachment of the floats.
Contributing Factors
The investigation highlighted that manual water loading requires the pilot to monitor internal gauges, diverting attention from external conditions. Additionally, asymmetric water contact with open scoops can induce significant yaw. The operator's basic operations manual lacked specific procedures for amphibious aircraft operations, and the flight manual provided to the pilot did not correspond to the specific amphibious configuration of the AT-802A.