What happened
On June 23, 2017, a Cessna A188A, registration HK1466, was performing agricultural spraying operations over a rice crop at the El Peñón farm in San Martín, Meta. While executing a climbing turn during a carousel maneuver, the aircraft experienced a partial loss of engine power.
In response to the power loss, the pilot attempted to apply maximum power, which yielded no response. As a final emergency measure, the pilot performed an emergency discharge of the chemical product. Seeking a landing site, the pilot executed a right-hand turn toward elevated terrain, resulting in a forced landing on unprepared ground. During the maneuver, the aircraft struck several trees, causing severe structural damage, including the separation of the left wing from the wing root, partial separation of the right wing, and the detachment of the engine from the fuselage. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured and able to exit the aircraft on his own.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical state of the Continental IO-520-D engine and the pilot's emergency procedures. Maintenance records indicated the aircraft was airworthy and had undergone regular inspections, including a recent 50-hour service. While the engine had undergone a major overhaul in 2016 due to previous issues with oil consumption and low compression, no recent anomalies were reported in the logs.
Investigators examined the cockpit configuration at the time of impact and found the throttle at maximum power, the mixture at full rich, and the chemical bypass and emergency ejection levers in the open position. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training and the company's operational manuals. Although the pilot was fully certified and medically fit, the investigation noted that certain emergency procedures, such as the specific mixture cutoff protocol, were not executed according to manufacturer or company standards.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a forced landing on unprepared terrain following a loss of engine power.
- The specific cause of the engine power loss could not be determined from the available evidence.
- The pilot demonstrated operational weaknesses in selecting an appropriate landing site during the emergency.
- There were discrepancies between the pilot's emergency actions and the procedures established in the company's General Operations Manual (MGO) and the manufacturer's flight manual.