2021 Neiva EMB-201A Agricultural Aircraft Accident in Umuarama, Brazil (PTGYG)

Overview and Flight History On 2 August 2021, a Neiva EMB-201A agricultural aircraft, registration PT-GYG, operated by CEAL Aviação Agrícola Ltda., departed Aeródromo Fazenda Estrela do Sul (SNQT) in Umuarama, Paraná, Brazil, at approximately 14:10 UTC. The aircraft was conducting crop-spraying operations over a sugarcane field with one pilot on board. During the second application pass, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently collided with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was unhurt. ## Aircraft and Pilot Details The aircraft, serial number 200455, was manufactured by Neiva in 1985 and was registered in the Specialized Air Services – Agricultural (SAE-AG) category. It held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness Verification (CVA) and was operating within its weight and balance limits. The aircraft was certified for operation with ethanol. Its last 100-hour inspection was performed on 4 June 2021 by the maintenance organization Ceal Aviação Agrícola Ltda. in Palotina, Paraná, and the aircraft had accumulated 19 hours and 30 minutes of flight time since that inspection. The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot License – Airplane (PCM) with valid ratings for single-engine land airplane (MNTE) and agricultural pilot – airplane (PAGA). He also held a valid medical certificate. The pilot had approximately 1,000 total flight hours, including 570 hours on the EMB-201A type. He had completed his agricultural pilot course in July 2020 and was in the early stages of his second agricultural season, having been employed by the operator for one month and having flown 20 hours for the company. ## Contributing Factors and Safety Recommendations The investigation identified that the pilot lost control during descent after crossing a local electrical transmission line that crossed the field at the end of an east-west slope. The pilot reported that the landing gear struck the crop, after which the aircraft skidded for several meters and overturned. The pilot stated that he did not have sufficient time to jettison the load and climb after the impact. The investigation noted that the pilot demonstrated limited familiarity with the operational map provided by the company, which identified existing electrical networks in the area, contributing to inadequate flight planning. The operator was unable to detect the limitations reported by the pilot, which may indicate inadequate managerial supervision and deficiencies in its risk management process. The operator had been involved in a series of accidents in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020, with previous safety recommendations issued to ANAC regarding the improvement of its Operational Safety Management System (SGSO), particularly in flight planning and managerial supervision. A new safety recommendation was issued to ANAC on 26 April 2023, urging it to strengthen supervisory mechanisms with CEAL Aviação Agrícola Ltda. and assess the maturity of its SMS to enhance the levels of competence and operational safety required for the activities for which the company is certified.