What happened
On February 11, 2002, an EMB 201 Ipanema, registration PT-GIB, was conducting an agricultural spraying operation over a rice plantation in Forquilha Grande, Araranguá, Brazil. During one of the passes over the field, the pilot encountered an unmarked high-voltage power line positioned approximately 8 meters above the ground.
In an attempt to avoid a collision with the wire, the pilot lowered the aircraft. This maneuver caused the landing gear to make contact with the flooded surface of the rice crop. The pilot attempted to execute a go-around, but the drag from the muddy terrain caused the aircraft to pitch forward. The aircraft subsequently struck an irrigation ditch and overturned on its back. The pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured, but the aircraft sustained severe damage to the engine, fuselage, wings, and propeller.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational circumstances and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation established that the aircraft was in a technically airworthy condition, with all maintenance records and inspections up to date. Meteorological conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and no cloud cover restrictions.
Investigators noted that the pilot was relatively inexperienced with this specific aircraft type and the particular flight profile required for this mission. The investigation also highlighted that the pilot had not performed a prior reconnaissance flight of the area, which is a standard procedure for unfamiliar terrain. Furthermore, the lack of ground markers (known as "bandeirinhas") to signal obstacles or boundaries contributed to the difficulty of the operation.
Findings
- The pilot failed to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance flight of the spraying area, leaving him unaware of the low-hanging power lines.
- The lack of visual signaling or markers for the electrical lines and the absence of ground personnel to guide the flight increased the operational risk.
- The pilot's decision to fly under the wire resulted in the landing gear entering the soft, flooded soil, making a successful recovery impossible.
- Factors such as the sun's position and potential lack of windshield cleanliness may have hindered the pilot's ability to perceive the obstacle in time.
- The operator's lack of ground support personnel (markers) increased the complexity of the flight variables for the pilot.