What happened
On January 8, 2016, at approximately 10:30 UTC, a Neiva EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-UQJ, was performing its fifth takeoff of the day from an agricultural landing area in Granja São Pedro, Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft was operated by Aeropel Aviação Agrícal LTDA for the purpose of applying fungicide to a rice crop.
During the takeoff roll, after traveling approximately 30 meters, the aircraft lost its centerline and veered to the left. As the aircraft drifted, the left main landing gear entered a section of loose, sandy soil. The increased rolling resistance on the left side caused the aircraft to decelerate unevenly, leading to a loss of directional control and causing the aircraft to capsize. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the characteristics of the landing strip, which was an unpaved area with varying levels of soil compaction. The strip had a total width of 8.5 meters, consisting of 5 meters of firm ground and 3.5 meters of loose earth. Given the 2.2-meter track width of the Neiva EMB-202, the margin for error was extremely narrow.
The investigation also noted that the aircraft's conventional landing gear configuration limited the pilot's forward visibility of the runway surface until the tailwheel was lifted. Furthermore, the investigation found that the operator failed to present a required Safety Risk Management (GRSO) analysis for operations at that specific location, as mandated by Brazilian civil aviation regulations (RBAC 137).
Findings
- Inadequate flight control application during the takeoff roll allowed the aircraft to drift into the uncompacted portion of the strip.
- Poor management planning, as the operator lacked the required risk assessment for the operational site.
- Organizational failures in maintaining effective safety risk mitigation processes.
- The narrow usable width of the runway and the presence of loose soil significantly increased the difficulty of maintaining directional control.
- The pilot's judgment was compromised by the high-risk nature of the task and the minimal infrastructure available.