What happened
On October 6, 2019, a Cessna 182P, registration HK5018, was performing a scheduled non-scheduled air transport flight from Mitú to San José de Cananarí, Colombia. The aircraft was operated by America´s Air SAS, carrying one pilot and one passenger.
Upon landing at San José de Cananarí at 13:03 HL, the pilot experienced a sudden impact on the right main landing gear. As the pilot applied the brakes, the aircraft lost directional control and veered left, exiting the runway and coming to a stop in the safety area approximately 10 meters from the runway edge. Both occupants were uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage, including a fractured nose gear, a broken engine cowling, a dented right wing tip, and a propeller strike.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical failure and the condition of the airfield. Investigators examined the aircraft's hydraulic system and found a fracture in the right main gear brake pressure line. This rupture was caused by the impact of a foreign object, specifically a small stone.
Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the infrastructure of the San José de Cananarí aerodrome. It was established that the airfield lacked formal administration and a maintenance program. The runway surface, consisting of gravel and dry grass, was found to be poorly maintained, with an irregular safety area covered in vegetation and debris.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loss of directional control due to a brake system failure resulting from a stone striking the right main gear hydraulic line.
- The damage to the aircraft was aggravated by the poor condition of the runway safety area, which was characterized by irregular terrain and overgrown weeds.
- The operator lacked an implemented Safety Management System (SMS) and did not perform risk analyses for the uncontrolled aerodromes in its area of operation.
- The aerodrome lacked oversight, maintenance, and a program for Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention.