What happened
On August 8, 2012, a Cessna A-188A performing an agricultural herbicide application flight struck a fence during takeoff from the Jojoca landing strip in São Sepé, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft, operated by Moro Serviços Aéreos Especializados, was departing to spray a rice field.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot aligned the aircraft 60 meters ahead of the runway threshold, leaving 460 meters of available runway. After traveling 300 meters, the pilot realized the aircraft was not reaching rotation speed but decided to continue the takeoff attempt. At 420 meters into the roll, the pilot rotated the aircraft at a speed below the required rotation speed. Consequently, the landing gear and the spraying equipment struck a fence located 40 meters ahead at the end of the runway. The pilot immediately jettisoned the herbicide load, completed the takeoff, performed a traffic pattern, and returned to land on the same strip. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, landing gear, and left wing.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy, with all documentation and maintenance records up to date. The pilot held valid medical and technical certifications and possessed sufficient experience for the mission. Meteorological conditions were favorable for VFR flight.
The investigation focused on the takeoff performance requirements. Based on the aircraft manual, at a takeoff weight of 3,726 lbs (resulting from 140 liters of aviation gasoline and 450 liters of herbicide), the required takeoff distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle was 494 meters. The available distance from the pilot's takeoff point to the fence was only 460 meters. The investigation found that the pilot failed to perform weight and balance calculations or analyze the maximum takeoff weight relative to the specific runway conditions and climate.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning regarding takeoff performance.
- Errors in pilot judgment regarding the decision to rotate below recommended speeds and the decision to proceed despite insufficient runway length.
- The distance from the takeoff point to the obstacle was shorter than the distance required by the manufacturer's performance charts.