What happened
On September 24, 2013, at approximately 07:32 local time, a Cessna A188B, registration HK3520, was conducting aerial spraying operations over a banana plantation near Riohacha, Colombia. The aircraft, operated by Aero Sanidad Agrícola - ASA S.A.S, departed from San Martín airfield to service the Finca Canada site.
During the eleventh spray pass, while flying at a low altitude, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to apply maximum power and execute an emergency product discharge to gain lift; however, the aircraft struck cable lines used in the plantation before impacting the terrain. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to evacuate the aircraft independently. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, including the separation of the engine and propeller, and damage to the tail section and landing gear.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the propulsion system and the flight dynamics during the emergency. Investigators examined the Continental IO-520-D engine and the McCauley propeller. While the right magneto was destroyed during the impact, inspections of the remaining engine components, including the spark plugs and the left magneto, showed no evidence of pre-impact failure or internal malfunctions.
Data from the onboard satellite spraying system confirmed that the power loss occurred during the eleventh pass. The investigation also analyzed the impact site, noting that the aircraft's flight path intersected with transverse cable lines. The investigation concluded that the propeller was not producing power at the moment of impact, confirming the pilot's report of power loss. Meteorological conditions at the time were found to be clear with good visibility, and the pilot's medical and flight credentials were valid.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a collision with obstacles (cable lines and banana trees) during low-altitude flight, precipitated by an undetermined loss of engine power.
- The pilot's decision to initiate emergency procedures was delayed due to the low altitude of the operation.
- The aircraft was flying at a regular height of approximately 6 meters above the crop, which left minimal margin for error when the engine malfunctioned.