What happened
On December 15, 2021, at approximately 17:25 local time, a Gulfstream IV (registration HI-1050), operated by Helidosa Aviation Group, crashed while attempting to land at Las Américas International Airport (MDSD) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The aircraft had departed from Aeropuerto Internacional Dr. Joaquín Balaguer (MDJB) for Orlando, Florida, under instrument flight rules.
During the flight, the crew reported hydraulic issues and subsequently identified a problem with the ailerons, declaring an emergency. While attempting to return to the departure airport, the crew requested a change of destination to MDSD. Despite air traffic control recommending a longer approach to runway 35, the aircraft flew directly toward the runway head. During the final approach, the aircraft struck trees and terrain approximately 200 meters from the right side of the runway, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and a post-impact fire. The accident resulted in two fatalities among the nine occupants.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined maintenance records, flight data from the recovered FDR, and cockpit audio from the CVR. Investigators reviewed security footage from the airport, which showed the aircraft's spoilers behaving asymmetrically during taxi and takeoff. The investigation also focused on recent maintenance performed on the aircraft's right-wing ground spoilers, which had been replaced with actuators from a different aircraft.
Technical analysis revealed that during the replacement of the ground spoiler actuators, it is possible to incorrectly connect the ground spoiler signal line with the combined hydraulic pressure line. This cross-connection leads to asymmetric deployment and flight control malfunctions.