Engine Failure Leads to Controlled Flight into Terrain in Dominican Republic

Casualties unknown • DO

A Cessna A-188B agricultural aircraft crashed in Montecristi after experiencing a gradual loss of engine power during a crop-spraying mission.

What happened

On December 23, 2017, at approximately 08:30 local time, a Cessna A-188B, registration HI-907, was conducting agricultural spraying operations over a banana plantation in the Las Mata de Santa Cruz project, Manzanillo, Montecristi.

Shortly after commencing its second flight of the day, the pilot noticed the engine was gradually losing power. In an attempt to manage the emergency, the pilot released the aircraft's payload, consisting of approximately 105 gallons of agrochemicals. The pilot then attempted to return to the Walterio landing strip. However, while approximately 2.5 nautical miles from the runway, the engine lost sufficient power to maintain flight, resulting in a controlled impact with the terrain. The aircraft struck the edge of an irrigation canal. The pilot, the sole occupant, escaped the wreckage uninjured, though the aircraft sustained severe damage to the propeller, the right landing gear, and the lower cowling.

The investigation

The CIAA investigation examined the human, material, and physical factors involved in the accident. The pilot was a highly experienced commercial pilot with 7,800 total flight hours, including 3,000 hours in this specific model. Meteorological conditions at the time of the event were considered favorable for the intended operations.

A critical component of the investigation involved the aircraft's Continental IO-520D26B engine. The CIAA sent the engine to the manufacturer's laboratory in Mobile, Alabama, for specialized testing to determine if a mechanical failure had occurred. However, the investigation revealed that the manufacturer disposed of and destroyed the engine without prior coordination with the CIAA, preventing a definitive technical analysis of the engine's performance.

Findings

  • The investigation could not definitively establish the exact cause of the engine power loss because the engine was destroyed by the manufacturer before it could be analyzed.
  • The pilot successfully executed emergency procedures by jettisoning the chemical load to reduce weight.
  • The aircraft was airworthy at the time of the accident, having undergone its 100-hour inspection just ten days prior to the event.

Probable cause

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined due to the loss of critical evidence, as the engine was destroyed by the manufacturer during the investigation process.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2017-01-01 aircraft accident near DO?

A Cessna A-188B agricultural aircraft crashed in Montecristi after experiencing a gradual loss of engine power during a crop-spraying mission.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2017-01-01 involved a aircraft, registration HI907, at DO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined due to the loss of critical evidence, as the engine was destroyed by the manufacturer during the investigation process.

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