Synopsis
A Piper PA28-161, registration HK4664G, operated by Protécnica S.A.S., was on a solo training flight from Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport on December 5, 2016. The aircraft departed at 08:10 local time (13:10 UTC) under VMC conditions for basic maneuvers in the Romeo 1 training area. The sole occupant, a student pilot, was conducting a pre-solo training flight.
Flight History
Approximately 10 minutes after departure, while climbing through 2,300 feet en route to the planned 2,500 feet, the student observed a drop in engine RPM. He immediately leveled the aircraft, reported to air traffic control that he had magneto problems, and requested to return to the airport. Shortly thereafter, the engine stopped completely. The student performed two restart checklists without success. Realizing he could not reach the runway, he elected to execute an emergency landing and notified ATC. The aircraft ditched in a mangrove swamp at coordinates N10°56'08" / W074°45'39", near Cabica Island in the Magdalena River, Soledad, Atlántico. The ditching was controlled, but the aircraft began to sink. The pilot evacuated without injury and was rescued by local residents in a boat. A police patrol transported him to a medical facility for a post-incident check.
Aircraft and Maintenance History
The aircraft, a 1972 Piper PA28-161 (serial 28-78116407, registration HK4664G), had logged 10,269:11 total hours. Its engine, a Lycoming O-320-E3D (serial L-12933-39A), had 6,413:03 total hours since new and 1,936:15 hours since overhaul. The propeller was a Sensenich 74DM6 S5-0-60 (serial A52540). The last maintenance service was on November 8, 2016. Maintenance records showed six entries between June 15 and December 5, 2016, addressing engine anomalies: an engine shutdown after takeoff on June 15 (corrected by inspecting the air induction system and replacing a deformed air filter); spark plugs replaced on August 24; carburetor fuel leak repaired on October 10; low fuel pressure and vibration on November 7 (corrected by cleaning spark plugs and fuel pump lines); low idle on November 17; and vibration and RPM drops on November 18 (corrected by cleaning spark plugs). All corrective actions were recorded as satisfactorily passing ground tests. However, no reports of these repetitive issues were found in the operator's safety office, nor was any risk management action taken.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be an engine shutdown of undetermined origin, resulting from repeated previous failures—including a total engine failure—for which adequate follow-up was not performed to correct the root cause. Contributing factors included weaknesses in the operator's maintenance safety and quality systems, which failed to take decisive action to identify and rectify the root cause of the repetitive powerplant failures, and deficiencies in the operator's Safety Management System, which did not detect or provide efficient procedures for reporting repetitive failures to enable coordinated risk management with maintenance.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage including dents and deformations to the fuselage, right wing leading edge, engine cowling, engine compartment, right stabilizer, and other components. No third-party damage occurred.