What happened
On August 15, 2011, at approximately 19:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB 201, registration PT-GPB, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Novo Lino, Alagoas. The aircraft had departed from the Porto Alegre plant to apply fertilizer at Sítio Limeira. During the flight, the pilot decided to reverse the usual clockwise flight pattern to an anti-clockwise direction.
While flying in this new direction, the aircraft collided with a low-voltage power line, causing the line to break and the engine to lose power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a marshy area characterized by low vegetation and surrounding hills. During the landing maneuver, the aircraft flipped onto its back (nose-over). The pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage and the electrical infrastructure was damaged.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the pilot's qualifications, the operator's oversight, and the flight planning process. While the pilot held valid technical licenses for single-engine land and agricultural operations, his medical certificate had expired. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had recently undergone a 100-hour inspection and was within weight and balance limits, although it had departed above the maximum takeoff weight.
Investigators found that the operator, Aero Agrícola Nordestina Ltda, lacked a systematic process for monitoring pilot performance and flight planning. Furthermore, the pilot had not performed a ground reconnaissance of the area prior to the flight, which could have identified the presence of the unmapped obstacles.
Findings
- The pilot's attention and perception were compromised by the sun's position, which created glare and obscured visibility when flying toward the light.
- A lack of flight planning and ground reconnaissance prevented the identification of the low-voltage wires.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by high self-confidence due to the routine nature of the task, leading to a failure to account for changes in terrain slope and sun position.
- The operator failed to provide adequate supervisory oversight, allowing pilots excessive autonomy in planning missions without technical support or safety reviews.
- The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate.
Safety action
CENIPA issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to implement management improvements within Aero Agrícola Nordestina Ltda to enhance their operational supervision and oversight controls.