What happened
On January 21, 1998, a G-164A agricultural aircraft, registration PT-OYK, was preparing for its first mission of the day at Fazenda Caiapônia in Jataí, Brazil. The aircraft was tasked with spraying a grass plantation. During the takeoff roll, the pilot determined that the aircraft would not reach rotation speed.
In an attempt to stop the aircraft before reaching the end of the unpaved runway, the pilot initiated an aborted takeoff. During this maneuver, the aircraft veered to the left and encountered soft soil in a nearby soybean field. The aircraft capsized and slid approximately 15 meters. The impact caused the entire load of insecticide to spill directly onto the pilot, resulting in severe injuries to the crew member. The aircraft sustained severe damage, including irreparable damage to the propeller and landing gear.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the operational procedures and the aircraft's maintenance history. The investigation revealed that the pilot was performing his first operation at this specific location. While the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within limits, the investigation found that the maintenance records were not up to date and the services performed were not considered periodic or adequate.
Investigators also analyzed the runway conditions, noting that the unpaved strip was non-certified and featured an uphill gradient in the chosen takeoff direction. Furthermore, the end of the runway was obstructed by trees, which influenced the pilot's decision to steer the aircraft away from the runway centerline during the abort maneuver.
Findings
- Deficient Planning: The pilot prepared for the flight with a higher payload (740 liters) than previous operations at the site, which typically utilized no more than 600 liters due to runway length and temperature.
- Deficient Judgment: The pilot selected a takeoff direction involving an uphill climb and failed to properly evaluate the aircraft's performance capabilities at that altitude and weight.
- Failure to Jettison Load: The pilot did not consider jettisoning the insecticide to lighten the aircraft, an action that could have either allowed the takeoff to continue or provided a safer margin for an aborted takeoff.
- Runway Obstructions: The presence of trees at the end of the runway contributed to the pilot's steering maneuver that led to the loss of control.