What happened
On October 7, 2011, at approximately 08:30 UTC, an Embraer EMB-202A aircraft, registration PT-UZE, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Arês, Rio Grande do Norte. The aircraft departed from a landing area at Fazenda Estives to reach a nearby crop field.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 60 meters, the aircraft's left wing struck a 75-meter-tall anemometer research tower. The impact caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, leading to a subsequent collision with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot was highly experienced, with 25 years in agricultural aviation and valid commercial and agricultural licenses. The aircraft was also found to be in a fully airworthy condition, with all maintenance logs up to date and operating within weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable for flight.
The investigation focused on the visibility of the obstacle and the flight planning process. While the tower was painted in the standard red and white pattern, the investigators found that the paint had become faded, reducing its visibility. Furthermore, the guy wires supporting the tower lacked the required aviation warning lights or markers, which violated existing aeronautical regulations regarding the signaling of similar structures.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that the pilot's flight planning documents did not include the location of the tower. The pilot reported that he may have diverted his attention to cockpit tasks, such as checking maps or equipment, during the flight, which prevented him from identifying the obstacle in time.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor was the lack of adequate signaling on the tower's guy wires and the faded state of the tower's paint.
- Inadequate flight planning, as the obstacle was not recorded in the navigation sketches used by the pilot.
- A lapse in situational awareness and attention, as the pilot was performing non-essential cockpit tasks during low-altitude flight.
- Potential deficiencies in managerial supervision regarding the oversight of operational flight planning.