What happened
On August 26, 2020, a Douglas DC-3, registration HK2006, operated by Aerolíneas Andinas-Aliansa S.A.S., was performing a commercial cargo flight. After completing a series of legs between Taraira, La Pedrera, and Pacoa, the aircraft returned to San José del Guaviare under visual flight rules. The aircraft was flying without cargo and carrying a crew of three.
Upon landing on runway 19, the aircraft's main landing gear made contact with the runway surface. At a speed of approximately 60 knots, the crew heard a sudden loss of pressure in the left main tire. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control by applying the right brake and rudder, but the differential pressure caused the aircraft to deviate from the centerline. The aircraft exited the runway to the left, entering the safety area. During the excursion, the main gear dropped into a ditch running parallel to the runway, which caused the propeller blades of both engines to strike the ground. The crew successfully shut down the engines and evacuated the aircraft; all three occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the tire and the condition of the aerodrome. Investigators recovered a 1/2-inch bolt from the tire carcass, which had fractured upon impact. The investigation also examined the infrastructure of the Jorge González Aerodrome, noting that while a Foreign Object Damage (FOD) program existed, it was not being actively implemented. The investigation found that the runway area lacked a proper Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and that the safety zone contained a ditch without protective grating, which contributed to the propeller damage during the excursion.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of control was a bolt located on the runway that became embedded in the left main tire, leading to an immediate loss of tire pressure.
- The aerodrome's FOD control and wildlife management programs were not being effectively applied.
- The runway environment featured significant pavement degradation, including depressions and crumbling asphalt.
- The lack of a properly maintained safety area, specifically the presence of an unprotected ditch parallel to the runway, led to the propellers striking the terrain.