What happened
On March 28, 2018, at approximately 11:40 UTC, a Cessna A188B, registration PR-BSL, took off from an unregistered airstrip at Fazenda Agroexport in Tailândia, Pará, to perform fungicide application over a soybean field. The mission involved flying between application areas separated by two high-voltage power lines.
While attempting to maneuver underneath the transmission cables to reach the next area, the pilot struck several lines. The impact caused an abrupt loss of airspeed, leading the aircraft to collide with the ground. The collision caused substantial damage to the aircraft and resulted in a power outage in the municipality of Barcareng, PA. Despite the impact, the pilot was rescued by local firefighters and remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed significant regulatory non-compliance regarding both the pilot and the aircraft. The investigation found that the pilot's medical certificate had been expired since October 2015, and both the single-engine land (MNTE) and agricultural pilot (PAGA) ratings had been expired since October 2013. Furthermore, recent flight experience could not be verified as the pilot's logbook had not been updated since September 2013.
The aircraft's airworthiness was also compromised. The Certificate of Airworthiness (CA) had been suspended since September 2017, and the Annual Maintenance Inspection (IAM) was overdue since August 2017. Additionally, the aircraft's logbooks, including the airframe, engine, and propeller records, were significantly outdated, with the last entry in the aircraft logbook dating back to November 2014.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the attempt to fly underneath high-voltage power lines.
- The pilot may have experienced a loss of situational awareness or a judgment error due to potential sun glare at the time of the maneuver.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits, carrying 600 liters of fungicide and approximately 120 liters of fuel.
- The pilot was operating with expired medical and pilot ratings.
- The aircraft was operating with a suspended airworthiness certificate and overdue maintenance inspections.