What happened
On November 30, 2016, at 07:32 local time, a Piper PA-34 (registration HK 4672) departed from Vanguardia Airport (SKVV) in Villavicencio, Colombia, bound for Puerto Gaitán. The aircraft, operated by SAER LTDA, was performing an aerotaxi flight carrying two crew members and two passengers.
Shortly after takeoff from runway 05, the aircraft entered its initial climb phase. During a right turn toward heading 050°, the left engine lost power. The pilot notified air traffic control of the engine failure, but the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude or airspeed. While attempting to maneuver for an emergency landing, the pilot identified a nearby field but diverted to a basketball court to avoid people in the area. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the terrace of a house within a residential complex, causing the right wing to break and the aircraft to come to rest in a low-angle impact.
All four occupants survived the crash. The pilot and one passenger evacuated the wreckage independently, while the co-pilot and the second passenger required assistance from airport emergency services. The co-pilot sustained serious injuries, including fractures and lacerations.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the sequence of events following the engine failure and the aircraft's performance during the emergency. Investigators examined the engine components, maintenance records, and the flight crew's execution of emergency procedures.
While the aircraft was found to be airworthy and maintained according to regulations, the investigation noted that the left engine's power loss could not be attributed to a specific mechanical cause. Furthermore, investigators analyzed the aerodynamic impact of the propeller state during the descent.