What happened
On August 12, 2023, an AT-502B aircraft, registered as PS-GPR, was conducting a local agricultural pesticide application flight near Nova Maringá, Mato Grosso. Approximately twenty-seven minutes after takeoff from Fazenda Centro Oeste Aerodrome, the aircraft collided with a power transmission line cable. The impact caused the aircraft to lose portions of its rudder and vertical stabilizer.
Following the collision, the pilot attempted to land at the home aerodrome three times but was unsuccessful due to the aircraft's damaged flight controls. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing in a nearby cotton plantation. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage—including damage to the landing gear, wingtip, and flaps—the pilot emerged from the accident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight path and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation established that the pilot had chosen a spray pattern that ran perpendicular to the power lines, requiring the aircraft to fly directly underneath the cables. This flight path necessitated steep turns near the obstacle.
Investigators also noted that the operation took place during low-light conditions, as sunset was not until much later in the evening. The investigation examined the pilot's experience, noting he was highly qualified with 3,300 total flight hours, and verified that the aircraft's maintenance records and airworthiness certificates were up to date.
Findings
- Complacent attitude: The pilot chose to perform spray passes transversely under the power lines rather than adopting a safer, parallel flight path that would have avoided the obstacle.
- Attentional fixation: The pilot's attention was focused on stabilizing the aircraft's axis for the next spray pass, leading to a failure to notice the proximity of the cables.
- Inadequate risk assessment: The decision to perform steep maneuvers near power lines was made without sufficient consideration of the risks, especially given the reduced visibility caused by low ambient light.
- Inadequate flight planning: Preflight preparation failed to account for the complexities of maneuvering near the transmission lines.
- Cultural factors: A potential industry culture of flying under power lines may have influenced the pilot's decision-making.