Flight History
On 28 January 2015, a Piper PA-25-260, registration HK667, operated by Fumigación Aérea del Tolima Ltda. (FATOL LTDA), was scheduled for aerial spraying operations in a rice field near El Espinal, Tolima, Colombia. The aircraft departed from Nueva York airstrip (IATA: NYY) at approximately 15:15 UTC with one pilot aboard. According to the pilot, the first spraying flight was completed without incident. During the second flight, after takeoff, the engine began losing power during the initial climb. The pilot discharged part of the pesticide as the power continued to drop. Attempting to return to the airstrip, the pilot released the remaining spray liquid, but the engine subsequently stopped. The pilot then executed a forced landing in an unprepared field, specifically a rice paddy, about 2 nautical miles from the airstrip at coordinates N04°06'17.48'' – W074°54'32.22''. The aircraft touched down in muddy terrain, sliding 19 meters through crop furrows before coming to a stop with a final heading of 351°. The pilot exited the aircraft uninjured. No fire occurred before or after impact. The event took place at 15:20 local time in visual meteorological conditions.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-25-260 (serial number 25-4898) manufactured in 1974, with a total of 9,483.1 flight hours. Its last documented 50-hour maintenance was performed on 5 November 2014. The engine was a Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (serial number L-6726-40) with 6,675.1 total hours and 1,283.15 hours since last overhaul. However, during post-accident inspection, discrepancies were found between the engine model documented in the technical library and the actual engine installed. The company had certified that the installed engine was a Lycoming O-540-G1A5, but the field inspection revealed a different model.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage: fracture and detachment of the left main landing gear, collapse of the right main landing gear, propeller blade deformation and leading-edge scratches, fuselage dents and damage to the lower engine cowling, rupture and detachment of the spray system, and tearing of the pilot's seat belt and harness straps. Damage to the surrounding vegetation occurred during the landing roll.
Investigation Findings
The accident investigation authority (GRIAA) determined that the most probable cause of the accident was engine power loss, possibly due to fuel pump failure, fuel filter obstruction, or carburetor malfunction. Contributing factors included the operator's inadequate assignment of duties and poor oversight of maintenance functions, allowing personnel with limited licenses (TLA) to perform duties requiring higher authorization (AIT). Additionally, the operator violated maintenance practices by installing an engine model not applicable to the aircraft type. The investigation issued five safety recommendations.