What happened
On May 19, 2020, a Piper PA-25-260, registration HK1080, operated by Fuminorte S.A.S. for agricultural spraying, experienced a sudden engine power loss shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was performing its first flight of the day, intended to spray fungicide over corn crops near Cartago, Colombia.
At an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the pilot noticed the engine was failing to maintain altitude. In an attempt to manage the emergency, the pilot evacuated the chemical payload to reduce the aircraft's weight. Despite these efforts, the engine could not maintain sufficient speed to return to the runway. The pilot subsequently executed a controlled forced landing in a field at Finca La Juliana. Just before touchdown, the aircraft struck livestock, causing a loss of control and a 15-meter slide. The pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken landing gear, deformed propeller, and structural damage to the empennage and wings.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical state of the engine and the operational procedures used during takeoff. Investigators examined the engine's Lycoming IO-540 powerplant and specifically analyzed the carburetor components. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance records of the operator and the takeoff configuration used by the crew.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of engine power resulting from an internal carburetor failure, specifically caused by a malfunctioning float that restricted the fuel flow necessary for proper combustion.
- Maintenance personnel had failed to properly monitor or follow up on the operational condition of the carburetor components.
- The operator's standard procedures did not require the use of the full available runway length for takeoff. Had the pilot utilized the entire runway rather than departing from the Alpha intersection, there might have been sufficient distance to perform a go-around or return to the runway.
Safety action
- The investigation issued recommendations to Fuminorte S.A.S. to improve engine inspection practices, reinforce takeoff procedures regarding runway usage, and perform technical analyses of component life cycles.
- A recommendation was also made to the Aeronáutica Civil de Colombia to disseminate the findings to all Special Aerial Work operators to improve Safety Management Systems.