What happened
On October 30, 2008, at approximately 18:50 UTC, an EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-UQK, was performing agricultural spraying operations in Ipané, Uruguaiana, RS. The aircraft was engaged in its seventh flight of the day, carrying herbicide for the application of a rice crop.
After departing, the pilot initiated a left-hand turn to align with a flight path parallel to the runway. As the aircraft completed the turn and prepared to begin the spray run, the landing gear struck a three-phase, low-voltage power line. The lines were located approximately 120 meters from the field at a height of about 9 meters. Following the impact, the pilot executed an emergency landing within the same field, sliding across the crop until the aircraft came to a complete stop. The pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured, though the aircraft sustained heavy damage to the fuselage, wings, landing gear, engine, and propeller.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft was operating within its weight and center of gravity limits and that the engine was producing normal power at the time of the collision. The investigation found that the pilot and an agronomist had intentionally chosen an east/west flight axis to avoid higher-voltage power lines, which posed a greater risk. However, the pilot had not performed a ground or aerial reconnaissance of the area prior to the flight because the field was located close to the airfield.
Investigators also noted that while the pilot was aware of the existence of the electrical network, there was no visible marking, such as colored flags, to identify the low-voltage wires. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted that the lack of operational supervision within the company meant there was no formal oversight to evaluate the risks of this specific operation.
Findings
- Sun Glare: The position of the sun, located approximately 15° to the right of the aircraft's heading, caused significant glare, which prevented the pilot from seeing the wires until they were too close to avoid.
- Lack of Reconnaissance: The pilot's decision not to conduct a pre-flight area survey prevented the identification of the low-voltage obstacle.
- Inadequate Planning: The flight path was chosen based on avoiding high-voltage lines, but the specific risk of the low-voltage lines was not mitigated through marking or better timing.
- Management Oversight: The absence of a dedicated flight operations department meant that the risks associated with the low-altitude spraying mission were not properly assessed by the operator.