What happened
On January 15, 2022, an Air Tractor AT-602, registration LV-WZE, was performing a firefighting mission near Santo Tomé, Corrientes. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft climbed a few meters before experiencing a loss of lift and veering to the left. In an attempt to regain control, the pilot released the water payload from the hopper. However, the sudden discharge caused a significant shift in the aircraft's center of gravity, leading to a pitch-up tendency that the pilot could not counteract. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground at the edge of the runway, resulting in the destruction of the airframe, engine, and propeller. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) examined the technical and operational aspects of the flight. Investigators determined that the aircraft's takeoff weight exceeded the maximum allowable limit. The investigation focused on the physics of the water release, noting that the center of gravity shifted from 541 mm to 649 mm during the discharge. While the flight manual warned of pitch changes during standard water drops, the investigation found that the manual lacked specific procedures for managing an emergency hopper discharge. Additionally, the JST reviewed the operational status of the airfield, which had been decommissioned as a public aerodrome in 2003 but was being used regularly for firefighting operations.