What happened
On March 24, 2019, at approximately 17:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB-202A agricultural aircraft, registration PT-UYJ, was performing a crop-spraying mission at Fazenda Montividiu Tiúba in Montividiu, Goiás. The aircraft departed from an unpaved agricultural landing strip (APUA) to apply pesticides. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft became airborne at the very end of the available runway and subsequently collided with a cornfield ahead of the strip. The pilot escaped the accident uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation established that the aircraft's takeoff weight was approximately 1,784.5 kg. Based on the ambient temperature of 30°C and the airfield elevation of 2,702 ft, the required takeoff ground roll for this weight was calculated at 807 meters. However, the available runway length was only 730 meters, meaning the aircraft was operating with a weight exceeding the safety limits for the available distance.
Investigators found that the pilot was utilizing a non-standard takeoff technique. Instead of following the manufacturer's procedures, the pilot used a method involving specific flap settings (0° to 30° to 8°) intended to achieve a shorter ground roll. This unauthorized technique was actually documented in the operator's internal manual, which contradicted the Embraer flight manual. Furthermore, the investigation revealed a lack of precise measuring tools on-site for temperature, pressure, and weight, as well as a lack of managerial oversight within the company.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating with a takeoff weight that exceeded the performance capabilities of the available runway length.
- The pilot employed a takeoff procedure that was not authorized by the aircraft manufacturer.
- There was a lack of effective managerial supervision, as the company's chief pilot had the autonomy to implement procedures that deviated from official manuals.
- An organizational culture of informality existed, where pilots routinely bypassed performance charts and relied on unverified practical experience.
- The company lacked the necessary resources to accurately measure environmental conditions and payload weights.