What happened
On February 26, 2019, a Piper PA-3-200T, registration OB-1926-P, was conducting multi-engine class rating training maneuvers at Lib Mandi Aerodrome in San Bartolo, Peru. The flight crew, consisting of a student pilot and an instructor pilot, was performing touch-and-go practice maneuvers on runway 32.
Following the fifth approach and landing, the crew prepared for another takeoff. The instructor retracted the flaps to 0°, and the student pilot applied full power. Upon reaching rotation speed, the aircraft experienced a sudden leftward veer and a loss of lift. The instructor attempted to intervene by applying right rudder to maintain the centerline, but the aircraft veered off the runway. The aircraft exited the runway pavement, striking the left side of the runway strip and traversing uneven terrain. This resulted in the failure of the left landing gear and a propeller strike on the number one engine. The aircraft eventually came to a stop approximately 100 meters left of the runway centerline.
Both occupants successfully evacuated the aircraft without injury, and no fire was reported.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the crew's training records, and the aerodrome environment. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and had sufficient fuel. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's controls, including ailerons and nose gear steering, were functioning within limits prior to the impact.
Investigators found that the training program for the multi-engine rating did not include specific simulator sessions for handling critical emergencies or directional control loss during takeoff. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the narrow width of the runway (18 meters) and the presence of crosswinds at the aerodrome increased the difficulty of maintaining directional control during student maneuvers.