What happened
On October 18, 2016, at approximately 18:00 UTC, a Neiva EMB-202, registration PT-UOT, was conducting a local flight departing from the Santa Vitória do Palmar (SSVP) airfield in Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft, operated by Agrototal Aero Agrícola Ltda, was performing maneuvers for agricultural training purposes over a pasture. During the third pass of the training sequence, the aircraft's landing gear struck the ground, causing the pilot to lose control and resulting in a collision with the terrain.
The impact caused substantial damage to the propeller, engine, landing gear, and the entire fuselage. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed several critical irregularities regarding the flight's legality and the post-accident response. The investigation noted that the SSVP airfield was closed to general traffic and authorized only for occasional agricultural landings; however, the pilot used the runway for a local flight not related to agricultural operations.
Furthermore, the investigation was significantly hindered by the operator's actions. Following the accident, the operator removed the aircraft from the site and washed it with a water jet, effectively destroying evidence that could have identified contributing factors. The investigation was also only initiated after a tip-off, as the operator failed to notify the authorities.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate (CMA) since 2007, and both the single-engine land (MNTE) and agricultural pilot (PAGA) licenses had been expired since 2002.
- Maintenance records for the airframe, propeller, and engine were outdated.
- There was no evidence of required 50-hour or 100-hour inspections being performed between the annual maintenance inspections conducted in 2015 and 2016.
- The pilot's lack of valid certifications and the lack of maintenance oversight were primary concerns, alongside the unauthorized use of the restricted airfield.