What happened
On July 25, 2013, a Gippsland GA200C, registration PT-PPJ, took off from an uncertified runway at Fazenda Terra Brasil in Pium, Tocantins, to perform performance verification flights. The aircraft was being operated by Precisão Aeroagrícola Ltda for agricultural purposes.
Following takeoff, the pilot attempted a left-hand turn to position the aircraft for a simulated spraying pass. During this maneuver, the aircraft's spray boom struck the top of a tree, causing the plane to impact the ground at an approximately 90-degree angle. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its structure, engine, and propeller, while the pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators determined that the aircraft was operating significantly beyond its structural limits. While the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) was 1,315kg, the actual weight at the time of the accident was calculated at 1,885kg. This represented an excess weight of 570kg.
The investigation revealed that the pilot had been incrementally increasing the water load in the hopper during previous test flights. After successful flights with an empty hopper and a 600-liter load, the pilot requested an 800-liter load, but the hopper was ultimately filled with 900kg of water. Combined with the weight of the pilot, fuel, and the airframe, the total weight far exceeded the certified limits.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in violation of RBHA 91.9 regulations regarding operational limitations.
- The pilot's decision to increase the load was driven by the perceived good performance in previous, lighter flights.
- Financial motivations related to the high potential returns of the agricultural spraying operation likely influenced the decision to conduct unsafe performance tests.
- Flight indiscipline, inadequate flight planning, and a lack of managerial supervision were identified as contributing factors.