What happened
On May 28, 2019, at approximately 10:30 UTC, an Air Tractor AT 402B, registration PP-SCS, was attempting to take off from an agricultural landing strip located at Fazenda Rodeio in Sorriso, Mato Grosso. The aircraft was engaged in a private agricultural spraying operation, carrying a single pilot and a payload of pesticides.
Immediately after leaving the ground, the aircraft overran the unpaved runway and collided with a cotton plantation situated at the end of the landing area. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, though the pilot escaped the occurrence uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial and agricultural licenses, and possessed a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was also in a condition for safe operation, with a valid airworthiness certificate and up-to-date maintenance records for the engine, propeller, and airframe.
At the time of takeoff, the aircraft's total weight was approximately 7,480 lb. While this exceeded the standard maximum takeoff weight of 7,000 lb specified in the Type Certificate Data Sheet, the aircraft's Flight Manual Supplement allows for increased takeoff weights up to 9,170 lb under specific conditions. The investigation focused on whether the takeoff distance required for this weight was available on the strip.
Investigators found that the aircraft was operating with a tailwind, which naturally increases the required ground roll. Furthermore, physical evidence on the left wing indicated that the flaps were set to approximately 12°, rather than the 20° position required by the takeoff distance tables for weights exceeding 7,000 lb. The lack of a windsock at the landing site was also noted as a factor that could lead to errors in judging wind conditions.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating with a flaps setting below the recommended 20° for its takeoff weight.
- The takeoff was performed with a prevailing tailwind.
- The pilot lacked equipment, such as a windsock, to accurately measure wind direction and intensity.
- The takeoff distance required by the combination of weight, flap setting, and tailwind exceeded the available runway length.