What happened
On March 26, 2021, a Thrush S2R-T34 aircraft, registration PR-TNT, was performing a local agricultural spraying flight from a landing strip at Fazenda Antas in Morro Agudo, São Paulo. The aircraft was operated by Pulveriza Aviação Agrícola LTDA-ME.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft reached rotation speed but subsequently lost lift and settled back onto the runway. The aircraft continued along the strip until it overran the end of the runway and collided with a sugarcane plantation. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, though the pilot escaped the incident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and held valid medical certification and agricultural flight ratings. The aircraft was also within its weight and balance limits, and its airworthiness certificate was valid. No engine malfunctions or technical failures were identified during the investigation.
Investigators noted that the aircraft's maintenance logs (cell, engine, and propeller) contained discrepancies, including erasures and incomplete fields, which did not comply with standard documentation regulations. While these were not direct causes of the accident, they were identified as latent management failures. Additionally, the investigation found that the operator had a history of similar documentation issues in previous incidents.
Regarding the environment, the takeoff strip was a dirt surface measuring 770 meters in length. While the weather was generally favorable, the surrounding sugarcane, which stood approximately 2 meters high, obscured the view of the wind direction and intensity. The operator's risk management plan specifically identified wind gusts as a primary hazard for this location.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of lift after rotation.
- The lack of wind indicators near the runway prevented the pilot from accurately assessing wind conditions.
- An undetected tailwind component is the most probable reason for the loss of lift and the subsequent runway excursion.
- Latent management failures were present regarding the accuracy of technical maintenance records.