What happened
On October 8, 2014, at approximately 12:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB-201A performing agricultural spraying operations departed from a runway located at Granja Remor in Marau, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft, operated by Aerodinâmica Aviação Agrícola Ltda, was engaged in a mission to apply fungicide to a nearby crop.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft failed to reach the required rotation speed. In an attempt to improve performance and assist the takeoff, the pilot began jettisoning the chemical product from the hopper to reduce the aircraft's weight. Although the aircraft managed to lift off the ground, it could not maintain sufficient flight parameters. Consequently, the aircraft struck a group of trees located at the end of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on why the aircraft failed to reach rotation speed despite the pilot's attempt to lighten the load. Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and found that the parking brake lever was engaged in the second position. Further inspection revealed that both the left and right brake pads were pressed against their respective discs.
Findings
- The pilot failed to release the parking brake prior to the takeoff roll.
- The pilot's oversight led to the aircraft's inability to reach necessary takeoff speeds.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the collision.
- The pilot sustained light injuries.