What happened
On November 27, 2018, a PZL-106BT-601 aircraft, registration PP-MRT, crashed into a cornfield at Santa Maria Farm in Caldas Novas, Brazil. The aircraft was engaged in its seventh aerial agricultural mission of the day, performing pesticide spraying. During a new application pass following a reversal turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The plane struck the ground in a pitch-down attitude with a 45-degree right tilt, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft's structure. The pilot escaped the wreckage unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the aircraft was operating in an unsafe condition, as its Certificate of Airworthiness had been suspended since February 2018 due to overdue maintenance inspections. Furthermore, the aircraft was significantly overweight at the time of impact. While the basic empty weight was 2,080 kg, the combined weight of the fuel, pesticide, and crew brought the total mass to approximately 3,630 kg, exceeding the maximum takeoff weight of 3,500 kg by 130 kg.
The investigation also examined environmental factors, noting that the terrain featured a 5.8% slope near the impact point. Meteorological data indicated that while winds were generally light, a gust of up to 7.3 m/s (14.2 kt) had occurred in the hour preceding the accident. The investigators also noted a lack of managerial oversight by the operator, Precisão Aeroagrícola Ltd. - EPP, regarding the airworthiness of their fleet.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating overweight by 130 kg, which compromised maneuverability and increased response time.
- The pilot was performing a low-altitude operation over uphill terrain that required assertive control inputs.
- A tailwind/right crosswind gust may have destabilized the aircraft during the application pass.
- The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness was suspended, indicating a lack of adequate maintenance verification.
- Inadequate managerial supervision by the operator allowed the use of an unairworthy aircraft.