What happened
On October 26, 2004, an EMB-201A agricultural aircraft, registration PT-GVS, was performing a crop-spraying mission over a soybean field at Granja Lagoa Bonita, in Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul. The flight was part of an agricultural application operation managed by Terceiro Milênio Aviação Agrí．
Prior to beginning the spraying passes, the pilot conducted a reconnaissance flight, overflying the target area twice to identify obstacles. An agronomist on-site provided a diagram detailing the location of obstacles within the field. After the reconnaissance, the pilot aligned the aircraft for the first spray pass. As the aircraft passed over the first set of electrical power lines, the pilot descended, causing the right main landing gear to strike a second set of power lines located 40 meters behind the first. The impact forced the aircraft into the ground, where it came to rest on its back.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events and the pilot's awareness of the obstacles. The investigation noted that while the pilot was properly qualified and the aircraft was within weight and balance limits, there were indications of uncertainty during the initial phase of the mission. An eyewitness, the company agronomist, observed the pilot performing two 360-degree turns, suggesting hesitation regarding the exact boundaries of the application area.
The investigation also examined organizational factors, noting that the company's Flight Safety Agent (ASV) was based in Guarapuava, far from the operational site in Itaqui. This distance hindered the agent's ability to effectively monitor mission planning and flight development. Furthermore, the investigation considered whether the presence of the agronomist at the site might have pressured the pilot to begin the operation without being fully certain of the obstacle locations.
Findings
- The pilot's right main landing gear struck the second set of electrical lines during a descent.
- The pilot may have failed to identify the second set of power lines during the reconnaissance flight or forgot their existence after passing the first set.
- Inadequate recognition of obstacles during the pre-spray reconnaissance flight was a primary contributing factor.
- The physical distance between the Flight Safety Agent and the operation area limited effective safety oversight.
- The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft suffered severe damage.