What happened
On April 3, 2018, a Piper PA 25-235, registration PT-OVJ, was performing a pesticide spraying mission over a banana plantation near Janaúba, Minas Gerais. The aircraft had departed from the Janaúba Aerodrome to conduct agricultural applications. During one of the flight passes, the pilot reported that the engine suddenly lost power.
In an attempt to manage the emergency, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to clear a power grid and discharged the remaining agricultural product from the hopper. While attempting to reach a dry pond for an emergency landing, the aircraft struck the treetops of a dense area of medium-sized vegetation. The impact occurred at a low speed and a wide angle, causing substantial damage to the aircraft's structure, engine, and propeller. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage, the engine, and the fuel. Laboratory tests conducted on fuel samples from both the aircraft and the storage site confirmed the fuel was clean and free of impurities. The engine was removed and subjected to a bench examination; investigators found no evidence of malfunction in the ignition, fuel, or lubrication systems. Furthermore, the analysis of the propeller blades showed little to no deformation, suggesting the engine was not producing power at the moment of impact.
While the aircraft's maintenance records showed that required inspections were up to date, investigators noted that the monthly usage records in the logbook were outdated. Despite the lack of mechanical evidence for a specific failure, the operational context and eyewitness accounts—which described the engine making a failing, irregular noise—were consistent with a momentary powerplant failure.
Findings
- The investigation could not identify a specific mechanical or systemic cause for the power loss.
- An undetermined momentary engine failure is the primary hypothesis for the loss of power.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits and had a valid airworthiness certificate.
- The pilot was qualified and experienced in agricultural flight operations.
- The terrain and dense vegetation contributed to the severity of the impact during the emergency landing attempt.