Engine Failure Leads to Forced Landing of Training Aircraft in Colombia

Casualties unknown • Cartago, CO

A Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk experienced a total loss of engine power during a training flight, resulting in a forced landing in an unprepared field in Cartago.

What happened

On January 31, 2014, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration HK-2146-G, was conducting a flight training mission for ADEVIA S.A. near Pereira, Colombia. Approximately ten minutes into the cruise phase of the flight, the crew noticed vibrations and a drop in engine RPM. The instructor pilot requested a return to the origin airport, but during the approach, the engine suffered a complete shutdown.

While attempting to reach the Santa Ana Aerodrome (SKGO), the crew found that the aircraft's glide performance was insufficient to reach the runway. Consequently, the pilot executed a forced landing in an unprepared field at Finca La Trinidad, near Cartage, Valle del Cauca. During the descent and impact, the aircraft struck fence posts and wires, causing significant damage to the engine, the left wing, and the landing gear. Both the instructor and the student pilot evacuated the aircraft without injury.

The investigation

The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the Lycoming O-235-L2C engine and the operational circumstances of the emergency. Investigators examined the engine components and found a three-inch fracture in the power crankcase near cylinder No. 2. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance logs of the operator, noting that while the engine had undergone regular inspections, there were organizational deficiencies within the flight school's Safety Management System (SMS), including delays and missing documentation.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the total loss of power was the ductile fracture of a connecting rod cap bolt on rod No. 2.
  • This failure caused an internal mechanical imbalance, leading to the subsequent detachment of the rod cap for rod No. 3.
  • The high mechanical loads resulted in permanent plastic deformation of the connecting rods and damage to the engine crankcase.
  • The crew was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) but was forced to conduct the emergency descent in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) due to cloud cover, which hindered their ability to locate the aerodrome.
  • The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage to the left wing, landing gear, and engine components.

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power was caused by the ductile fracture of a connecting rod cap bolt on rod No. 2, which triggered a sequence of internal mechanical failures and significant engine damage.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2014-01-31 PA-38-112 accident near Cartago, CO?

A Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk experienced a total loss of engine power during a training flight, resulting in a forced landing in an unprepared field in Cartago.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-01-31 involved a PA-38-112, registration HK2146, at Cartago, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The total loss of engine power was caused by the ductile fracture of a connecting rod cap bolt on rod No. 2, which triggered a sequence of internal mechanical failures and significant engine damage.

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