What happened
On February 13, 2024, at approximately 20:30 UTC, a Thrush S2R-H80 agricultural aircraft, registration LV-GKI, was performing aerial spraying operations in a rural area near Buchardo, Córdoba. The aircraft, operated by Azcárate Irastorza S.A., had departed from the Intendente Alvear/Azcarate Irastorza aerodrome earlier that day.
While executing a spraying pass over a second field, the aircraft struck a medium-voltage power line. The impact caused the engine turbine to indicate a failure and forced the propeller into a feathered position. Following the collision, the pilot attempted to gain altitude to avoid further obstacles and initiated the emergency release of the hopper to reduce weight. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing in an adjacent field, where the aircraft came to a stop after a partial skid. There were no fatalities and no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's credentials, and the physical damage to the aircraft. The pilot held a valid license and medical certification, with over 1,900 hours of experience as an agricultural pilot. On the day of the accident, the pilot had already completed four successful flights, accumulating 7.5 hours of flight time.
Investigators noted that the pilot had performed an aerial reconnaissance prior to the mission, which identified certain obstacles such as trees and a main power line. However, a secondary line branching perpendicularly from the main line was not identified during the spraying of the second field. The investigation also analyzed the damage to the Thrush S2R-H80, which included significant damage to the propeller blades and cone, the right-side landing light, and the hopper.
Findings
- The pilot failed to detect the secondary power line during the spraying maneuver.
- The collision with the electrical wires caused a turbine failure indication and forced the propeller to feather.
- A decrease in selective attention and vigilance, likely due to the accumulated flight time and the duration of the task, contributed to the failure to identify the obstacle.
- The transition from a first field with different obstacle characteristics to a second field with new hazards contributed to the occurrence.