Accident Details
On August 8, 2014, at approximately 17:05 local time, a Piper PA-25-260 agricultural aircraft, registration HK-1680, operated by Sanidad Vegetal Cruz Verde S.A.S., crashed at Finca Boluga in Venadillo, Tolima, Colombia. The aircraft was conducting a fertilizer application flight in a rice field. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a medical center after exiting the aircraft. No post-impact fire occurred.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was scheduled for eight afternoon flights from the company's auxiliary airstrip "Boluga." After three uneventful flights, during the fourth application pass while compensating a turn, the control stick detached from its structural anchor. This rendered the pilot unable to control roll and pitch. The aircraft entered a sharp left turn, continued rotating along its longitudinal axis, and struck the ground with the right wing, which fractured and folded under the fuselage. The landing gear detached, and the aircraft slid across the field before coming to rest.
Investigation Findings
The investigation by the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority's Accident Investigation Group (GRIAA) determined that the accident resulted from a brittle fracture in the sheet metal joining the control stick to the torque tube. This failure was attributed to material fatigue. The fracture occurred in flight, causing complete loss of flight control. No other causal factors were identified. Weather conditions were visual and favorable, and no navigation aids, communications issues, or airport factors contributed.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The Piper PA-25-260 (serial number 25-7556062) was manufactured in 1968. Its last maintenance service was on July 15, 2014. The aircraft had accumulated 13,323.5 total flight hours. The engine was a Lycoming O-540-G1A5 and the propeller a Hartzell HC-C2YK-1BF. The pilot, aged 61, held a valid PCA license and medical certificate, with a total flight time of 6,500 hours, including 663.5 hours on type. Maintenance records showed compliance with required inspection programs and Airworthiness Directives, but no specific directive addressed the control stick attachment area.
Damage Assessment
The accident caused structural damage to the right wing, left wing, forward fuselage, right elevator, landing gear, engine and propeller assembly, cockpit, and flight deck.