What happened
On December 18, 2008, at approximately 09:00 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201A, registration PT-GSF, was performing agricultural spraying operations at Fazenda Zuqudot in Catanduvas, Paraná. The aircraft departed from a local landing strip to apply agricultural inputs. During a repositioning maneuver for a second pass, the aircraft struck electrical transmission lines, causing the wires to break. Following the collision, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently struck the ground. The impact caused a fire that damaged the right wing's leading edge, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe, engine, and propeller. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was highly experienced in agricultural aviation and held valid commercial licenses and medical certification. The aircraft was also airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and had been maintained by an approved facility, although investigators noted that the aircraft's logbooks and maintenance records were not up to date.
Meteorological conditions were favorable, with a partially cloudy sky and no solar glare interfering with the pilot's vision. The investigation established that while the pilot had performed a prior reconnaissance of the application area, the obstacles located near the flight path were not properly accounted for during the repositioning maneuvers. The investigation also noted that the pilot was an independent contractor rather than a permanent employee of the aircraft owner.
Findings
- The pilot failed to identify and account for power line obstacles during the flight planning phase.
- The collision with the transmission lines occurred during a maneuver required to realign the aircraft for the spraying pattern.
- Inadequate flight planning regarding obstacle identification was the primary contributing factor.
- The aircraft's maintenance logs and engine/propeller records were not updated at the time of the accident.