What happened
On February 28, 2009, at approximately 09:15 A.M., a Cessna A188B, registration HI-799, was performing aerial spraying operations over rice plantations approximately four miles east of the Angelina airfield in Cotuí. While executing a flight path for agricultural application, the aircraft collided with a tree.
The impact caused the left main landing gear to detach and resulted in damage to the leading edge of the left wing support. Following the collision, the pilot performed an emergency landing at the nearby Angelina airfield. During the landing, the aircraft, operating with only one landing gear, impacted the ground with the left wing, causing additional structural damage. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's maintenance history, and environmental conditions. The investigation established that the aircraft had undergone a 100-hour/annual inspection on February 22, 2009, and was considered airworthy at the time of the accident. No mechanical failures were identified as contributing to the event.
Investigators also noted that while the pilot was performing spraying duties, patches of mist were present in the area, which had previously impacted visibility. Furthermore, the investigation found that the fire extinguisher on board the aircraft was expired.