2015 Piper PA-25-235 agricultural aircraft accident in Tacuarembó, Uruguay (CX-BRZ-R)

Overview and flight background On 26 January 2015, a Piper PA-25-235 agricultural aircraft, registration CX-BRZ-R, was conducting an aeroapplication operation in the Tacuarembó Department of Uruguay. The aircraft was operated by Servicio Aeroagrícola de Flores S.R.L. and owned by Javier Ramos Martínez. According to the final investigation report No. 576 issued by Uruguay’s Comisión Investigadora de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación (C.I.A.I.A.), the accident occurred at approximately 19:00 local time near Ruta 26, Km 260, Paraje Tres Cerros. The pilot reported that the aircraft had been used continuously in the days before the accident, with no activity on the day prior. On the day of the accident, operations began in the morning from Aeródromo “Joaquín Lencina” in Villa Ansina, Tacuarembó, before moving to a temporary airstrip 15 km to the southeast. Four liquid-application flights were completed there, each carrying 360 litres of product. The aircraft returned to the aerodrome at midday and later resumed work at the temporary strip in solid-application mode, carrying 350 kg of urea. ## Accident sequence The investigation stated that activity was interrupted due to high temperature and low pressure, then resumed about two hours later. The accident occurred at the start of the first flight after the break. The aircraft was loaded with 350 kg of urea and 80 litres of fuel. The pilot reported that the aircraft required a long takeoff roll and had difficulty becoming airborne because of the elevated temperature and reduced wind. The load had not been released. During the takeoff attempt, the lower part of the left wing struck a post of the perimeter fence at the end of the temporary strip. The impact destabilized the aircraft. After passing the obstacle, the aircraft touched the ground; the left main landing-gear shock absorber broke, and the wing contacted the ground. The report recorded no fire. ## Damage, injuries, and aircraft data The aircraft sustained major damage to the left wing from the impact with the fence post, to both main landing gear assemblies, and to the lower surface of the main structure. A fence post and some wires were cut by the left wing and repaired the following day by the operating company. The pilot-in-command evacuated the aircraft by his own means and was reported as uninjured. The injury table in the report listed one person with no injuries. The aircraft was a Piper PA-25-235, serial number 25-5131, manufactured in 1982. It had a conventional landing gear and was certified in the restricted category. The powerplant was a Lycoming B2 B5, serial L-17898-40 AC, and the propeller was a McCauley 1A200/FA 8452. The report listed a capacity of 568 litres or 545 kg of chemical products, a wingspan of 11.02 m, and a loaded weight of 1,317 kg. The pilot held a commercial pilot licence and an aeroapplication qualification, with total time of 4,688:35 hours and approximately 4,600 hours on the PA-25 type.