What happened
On May 3, 2018, an Embraer EMB-203 aircraft, registered as PT-BYQ, was performing agricultural spraying operations at Fazenda Cristalina in Paragominas, Pará. The aircraft was conducting a local flight to apply pesticides when, during the seventh application pass, the pilot attempted to reposition the aircraft for a subsequent run. During this maneuver, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of airspeed and was unable to maintain sufficient altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck vegetation at the edge of the application area before impacting the ground. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft, including the engine assembly. The pilot survived the accident without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the flight history, the pilot's credentials, and the aircraft's maintenance records. The pilot was found to be fully qualified with valid medical and agricultural flight certifications. While the pilot reported a sudden drop in speed, investigators could not confirm a mechanical engine failure because the post-crash fire had severely damaged the powerplant.
Investigators focused on the aircraft's weight and balance. Although the pilot believed the aircraft was within safe operating limits because the hopper volume had not been exceeded, a manual calculation revealed that the aircraft was approximately 115kg above its maximum takeoff weight during departure. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was likely still operating near or above its maximum allowable weight.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating outside of its established weight and balance envelope.
- The pilot failed to perform the required weight and balance calculations prior to takeoff, relying instead on the volumetric capacity of the hopper.
- The aircraft's weight exceeded the manufacturer's maximum takeoff weight of 1,900kg.
- Potential contributing factors included possible errors in flight command application, diminished pilot attention, or errors in judgment regarding the timing of the reversal maneuver.
Safety action
CENIPA issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to disseminate the lessons learned from this investigation. The goal is to alert agricultural operators and pilots to the critical importance of performing precise weight and balance calculations, specifically regarding the relationship between hopper capacity and the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight.