Flight Details
On July 1, 2020, Servicio Aéreo Fumigación Colombiana SAFUCO Ltda. scheduled a Cessna A188B, registration HK1997, for two spraying flights over a rice crop at Finca Venecia, Fundación, Magdalena. The aircraft departed from La Palestina airstrip (IATA: ODA) at 10:08 local time with a single pilot on board.
Accident Sequence
The flight to the target lot took approximately five minutes. After about eight minutes of flight, as the pilot prepared to descend for spraying, he perceived a reduction in engine power. He decided to jettison the chemical product and configure the aircraft for an emergency landing. The forced landing was executed in a field approximately 250 meters from the intended spraying area.
Aircraft Damage
The landing was controlled, but the irregular terrain caused substantial damage. The left main landing gear detached. Damage included dents and ruptures to the left and right wings, fuselage, flaps, ailerons, trim tab, boom equipment, and various structural components. Specifics included a dent in the left wing leading edge from station WS 100 to WS 208, rupture of the left wing rear spar and skin from WS 23.62 to WS 39, and rupture of the left wing tip kit. Fuselage skin was ruptured and dented at multiple stations. Both left and right flaps and ailerons sustained damage including rib fractures and skin dents. The left and right wing strut mounting covers were also broken.
Injuries
The pilot sustained minor injuries and exited the aircraft unassisted. No other persons were on board.
Investigation Findings
The investigation by the Grupo de Investigación de Accidentes – GRIAA determined that the power loss resulted from wear of the No. 4 bearing, which obstructed lubrication lines, leading to increased temperature and low oil pressure during operation. The bearing wear was attributed to probable imprecisions in engine assembly or misadjustments during operation, causing misalignment and rotation on the crankshaft. The forced landing onto an unprepared field was the consequence of the power loss.
Probable Cause
The probable causes were: forced landing in an unprepared field due to engine power loss from wear of the No. 4 bearing, causing obstruction of lubrication lines with increased temperature and low oil pressure; and probable imprecisions in engine assembly or misadjustments during operation that caused bearing wear due to misalignment and rotation on the crankshaft.