Piper PA-31 Navajo Hard Landing at Coyhaique

Incident Overview and Flight Details On September 19, 2023, a Piper Aircraft PA-31 “Navajo” (serial number 31-8112074) was conducting an aeromedical transfer flight under visual flight rules (VFR). The aircraft departed from La Junta Aerodrome (SCLJ) in the Aysén Region of Chile and was en route to Teniente Vidal Aerodrome (SCCY) in Coyhaique. The flight was operated by a commercial pilot and carried two auxiliary health personnel and one patient. ## Landing and Damage During the approach to runway 21 at SCCY, the pilot received wind information of 3 knots from 250°. Upon initial contact in the first third of the runway, the aircraft experienced a hard landing. The abrupt contact with the runway resulted in no injuries to the four individuals on board. However, the aircraft sustained structural damage, including deformation and fractures in the left wing and deformation of two anchor bolts on the left main landing gear leg. ## Aircraft and Crew Information The aircraft, manufactured in 1981, had a total of 9,406.5 flight hours. The pilot in command was a 35-year-old Chilean national holding a commercial pilot license with instrument ratings. The pilot had 5,575 total flight hours, including 110 hours on the specific aircraft type. The investigation was conducted in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 and Chilean regulations, focusing on safety prevention rather than assigning blame.