What happened
On November 25, 2017, an Embraer EMB-202A, registration PT-UZI, was conducting agricultural spraying operations at Fazenda Cataco in Ubaruna, São Paulo. The aircraft had completed eleven of its planned nineteen sorties for the day. During the landing of the eleventh flight, the right main landing gear tire burst during the landing roll.
Following the failure, the aircraft veered off the right side of the runway, traveling approximately 20 meters across a grassy area before colliding with a barbed-wire fence. The impact with a wooden fence post caused damage to the aircraft's right wing. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's credentials, and the runway conditions. The pilot held valid commercial licenses and medical certification, and the aircraft possessed a valid Certificate of Airworthiness with up-to-date technical logs.
Investigators analyzed data from the aircraft's Digital Ground Positioning System (DGPS), which revealed that the pilot was performing a shortened landing pattern, touching down beyond the standard touchdown zone. This procedure, intended to optimize turnaround time between spraying sorties, required more aggressive braking. Additionally, investigators noted that the pilot consistently performed 180-degree back-track turns to the right, which placed increased friction and stress on the left tire, while the right tire was subject to specific wear patterns from the runway surface.
Physical inspections of the tires revealed significant wear, including loss of treads, irregular wear, and longitudinal grooves. The investigation also identified loose asphalt debris on the runway surface, which contributed to the degradation of the tire.
Findings
- The right main landing gear tire burst during the landing roll.
- The aircraft's tires showed advanced wear, including irregular patterns and loss of grooves.
- The presence of loose asphalt debris on the runway surface contributed to tire degradation.
- The pilot's use of a shortened landing circuit increased braking requirements and tire stress.
- The pilot's specific back-track maneuvers and landing technique contributed to the mechanical failure.
Safety action
CENIPA issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to disseminate the lessons learned from this investigation. The goal is to alert agricultural pilots and operators regarding proper Operational Safety Risk Management (GRSO) and the necessity of rigorous monitoring of aircraft tire conditions.