What happened
On January 31, 2019, a Neiva EMB 202A, registration PT-UTU, was conducting agricultural spraying operations over a sugarcane plantation at Fazenda das Flores, in Avaré, São Paulo. The aircraft was engaged in applying fungicide when, approximately five minutes into its eighth takeoff of the day, it struck an antenna support.
Following the impact, the aircraft veered to the right and continued flight, experiencing vibrations, until it successfully returned to the origin landing strip. The pilot was uninjured, and the aircraft sustained light damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed with valid commercial and agricultural ratings, and held a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and the meteorological conditions were favorable for flight.
The investigation established that while the pilot had performed a visual reconnaissance of the initial work area, that specific area differed from the location where the collision occurred. A different pilot from the same company had performed the reconnaissance for the area in question, but the antenna support was not identified during that flight. Furthermore, neither the pilot nor the company's Safety Management professional had conducted a ground-based survey of the application area to identify potential hazards.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning regarding the identification of obstacles in the operational area.
- Lack of situational awareness and failure to perceive the antenna support.
- Deficiencies in managerial supervision regarding the preparation and oversight of agricultural spraying operations.
Safety action
CENIPA issued recommendations to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to work with the operator to enhance its Safety Management System (SMS), specifically focusing on flight planning mechanisms, crew attention during spraying services, and managerial oversight. Additionally, the findings are to be disseminated to alert pilots and operators to the risks of agricultural planning that fails to account for ground obstacles.