Factual Information
On 18 September 2021, a Piper PA-28-235 aircraft, registration CC-PDC, operated by its owner-pilot Enrique Waugh Correa, was involved in an accident near Torca Airfield (SCLI), Llico, Maule Region, Chile. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and a passenger, who was also a private pilot. The flight was a local operation. The aircraft had been fueled with 85 liters of fuel in each main tank (left and right), providing an estimated endurance of approximately 4 hours.
Sequence of Events
Two local flights were planned. For the first flight, one of the pilots acted as pilot-in-command (PIC) and took off from runway 20 of Torca Airfield with the passenger. The fuel selector was set to the left main tank. The flight lasted 1 hour 6 minutes, after which the aircraft landed without incident. With the engine still running, the two pilots exchanged positions for a second flight. The new PIC performed pre-takeoff checks, including magneto and carburetor heat checks, all reported as normal. The takeoff was configured with flaps at 0°, the auxiliary fuel pump (booster) on, and the fuel selector remaining on the left main tank.
Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. The pilot executed an emergency landing to the southwest of the airfield.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants were uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage during the emergency landing.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The Chilean investigation authority classified the accident as fuel-related. The specific cause was stated in the report as "Relacionado con combustible (Fuel)" (Fuel-related). No further details on the causal mechanism were provided in the publicly available summary.