Introduction
On June 23, 2017, at 14:00 local time, a Cessna A188A (registration HK1466) operated by Fumigación Aérea Los Gavanes – FAGAN S.E.C was engaged in an agricultural spraying flight over a rice field at Finca "El Peñón" in San Martín, Meta, Colombia. During the operation, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power and performed a forced landing into unprepared terrain, colliding with trees. The aircraft sustained severe structural damage, but the pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. No post-impact fire occurred.
Flight History
The aircraft had been fueled with 50 gallons of gasoline and departed from runway 10 at La Loma airstrip (ICAO: SQOL), immediately turning left toward the assigned field. On the sixth pass, while climbing during a 90-270 degree turn, the pilot noted a power loss. He leveled the wings and applied full throttle with no response. He jettisoned the chemical load as an emergency measure. Seeing elevated terrain ahead, he applied right rudder and turned right. Subsequently, the aircraft struck trees, resulting in severe structural damage, and came to a stop. The pilot exited the aircraft unaided.
Injuries
The pilot was uninjured. No other persons were aboard.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The left wing separated at the root, the right wing section partially separated, the engine detached from the fuselage structure, and the right stabilizer separated. The engine experienced a sudden stoppage during the accident.
Other Damage
The impact and spillage of fuel and oil affected surrounding vegetation.
Pilot Information
The 42-year-old pilot held a Commercial Pilot Airplane license with an agricultural pilot rating, issued July 19, 2014. His first-class medical certificate was valid until October 12, 2017. He had 849:27 total flight hours, with 840:00 hours on the Cessna 188. His last annual flight check was on December 7, 2016, with satisfactory results. He had joined the company in April 2017 and had previously flown the same field.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna A188A (serial 18800674) had a total of 6,693:12 flight hours. Its last 50-hour service was on May 15, 2017, and its last annual inspection was scheduled for August 16, 2017. Maintenance records showed no repetitive defects or recent anomalies. The engine, a Continental IO-520-D (serial 574921), had 3,727:00 total hours and 643:42 hours since major overhaul. It had undergone a major overhaul on May 2, 2016, due to low compression and excessive oil consumption. The propeller was a McCauley B2A34C205C (serial 071090) with 3,486:06 total hours.
Meteorological Information
No nearby ground weather stations existed. The pilot reported that weather conditions were favorable for the flight and did not influence the accident.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident site was flat terrain at an elevation of 886 feet, approximately 800 meters from the intended spray field. The aircraft impacted on a heading of 070°, with both wings striking tree trunks at coordinates N03°41'30.85" / W073°26'08.22" and N03°41'30.73" / W073°26'07.94".
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the execution of a forced landing in an unprepared field during low-altitude flight as a consequence of a power loss. The reasons for the power loss were undetermined based on all evidence evaluated. A contributing factor was operational weaknesses in the search for and selection of a suitable terrain for the forced landing.