What happened
On September 6, 2014, a Piper PA31-350, registration HK4755, was conducting a non-scheduled passenger flight from Araracuara (ACR) toward Florencia (SKFL). The aircraft was operated by Laser Aéreo S.A.S. and was carrying two crew members and eight passengers, along with cargo including fish and a motor component.
Shortly after departing from runway 09, the aircraft began a climb with a low gradient. Approximately two minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the jungle terrain approximately 4.45 NM from the aerodrome. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that consumed much of the airframe. All 10 fatalities (two crew and eight passengers) were confirmed at the scene.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation established that the aircraft's right engine (No. 2) produced no power at the time of impact, while the left engine (No. 1) was still producing power. Investigators noted that the propeller on the right engine was not in the feathered position, which increased aerodynamic drag and contributed to the loss of control.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft was likely operating above its maximum structural weight. While the maximum operating weight for the aircraft is 7,000 lbs, the estimated weight with cargo was approximately 7,189 lbs. There was also no documented evidence of a weight and balance manifest for the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control during the initial climb following the failure of the right engine.
- The crew failed to execute the necessary emergency procedures following the engine failure, specifically failing to feather the propeller.
- The aircraft was likely operating at an overweight condition, which reduced performance margins.
- The investigation could not determine the specific origin of the right engine's malfunction, though the engine had previously experienced an engine fire in November 2013.
- There was a lack of operational support regarding the tracking of crew flight hours in the specific aircraft type.