Accident Overview
On February 3, 2010, at approximately 07:15 p.m. local time, a Cessna A-188, registration N85912, operated by Consorcio Azucarero Central, crashed in a wooded area near Las Salinas, Barahona, Dominican Republic. The aircraft was conducting agricultural spraying operations and was on its second flight of the day. The pilot was the sole occupant and sustained minor injuries. The aircraft incurred substantial damage.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a 49-year-old Dominican national holding a commercial pilot license for single-engine aircraft. He had accumulated 2,296 total flight hours, including 1,070.7 hours on agricultural aircraft and 600 hours on the accident aircraft type. His last medical examination was on August 24, 2007.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna A-188 (serial number 18802001T, manufactured in 1974) was powered by a Teledyne Continental IO-520-D23 engine (serial number 559201, 652 hours since overhaul) and a McCauley propeller (model D2A34C98-NO/S90AT). The aircraft had a total of 4,458 airframe hours.
Engine Failure Sequence
After takeoff from a base airstrip at Batey No. 4, the pilot was climbing from 500 to 700 feet. Upon increasing power, he heard an unusual noise and observed low oil pressure and high cylinder temperatures. The engine then stopped completely. The pilot jettisoned the agricultural load and initiated an emergency landing.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft impacted trees in a wooded area within a stream bed, which slowed its descent. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the forward fuselage, the main landing gear, and the airframe structure. The pilot suffered minor contusions to the lower back and exited the aircraft unaided. There was no post-impact fire.
Weather Conditions
Weather at the time reported occasional cloudiness with isolated showers, visibility greater than 10 miles, and temperatures between 21 and 31 degrees Celsius.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident inspection revealed that the engine crankcase was broken at cylinder No. 2, the connecting rod of piston No. 2 was fractured, and no oil was found inside the engine. The investigation concluded that the cause was the obstruction of the lubrication injector for cylinder No. 2, leading to inadequate lubrication, subsequent connecting rod failure, crankcase rupture, and engine stoppage.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the obstruction of the lubrication injector of cylinder No. 2, which caused a lack of lubrication in that cylinder, followed by the breakage of the piston's connecting rod, leading to the rupture of the crankcase and the subsequent engine stoppage.