What happened
On March 24, 2015, an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration PR-FSI, was performing an agricultural flight from Barreiras, BA, to Fazenda Santana, Riachão das Neves, BA. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) during daylight hours.
As the pilot approached runway 12 at the private airstrip, the aircraft encountered a sudden air current immediately after crossing the threshold. This disturbance caused the tail of the aircraft to lift abruptly. The aircraft maintained a nose-down attitude for several moments, resulting in the propeller blade tips striking the unpaved ground before the main landing gear could make contact with the runway. The impact caused substantial damage to the propeller and engine assembly. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the pilot's approach. The investigation established that the landing site, a private dirt strip, lacked a windsock, leaving the pilot unaware of the wind direction and intensity. The pilot, an experienced aviator with approximately 22,000 total flight hours and 6,000 hours in the AT-502B, was qualified for the operation. The investigation examined the possibility that the pilot was unknowingly performing a landing with a tailwind due to the lack of local wind information.
Findings
- The pilot was unaware of the specific wind conditions at the destination due to the absence of a windsock at the aerodrome.
- The aircraft experienced a sudden aerodynamic disturbance during the landing flare.
- The pilot may have been performing a landing with a tailwind without realizing it.
- The aircraft's weight and balance were within limits, and all airworthiness documentation was up to date.