2021 Air Tractor AT-301 accident in Ciénaga, Colombia (HK5162)

Flight and accident sequence On April 13, 2021, an Air Tractor AT-301 with registration HK5162 was scheduled for agricultural spraying over a banana crop at Finca Papare in Ciénaga, Magdalena, Colombia. The aircraft departed from La Lucha airstrip (IATA 9LD) at 06:00 local time, carrying 56 gallons of fuel and 250 gallons of organic product. It completed two uneventful flights before being refueled and reloaded for a third sortie. During the third flight, approximately 3 kilometers from the farm, the pilot reported a loss of power and speed. After attempting to operate the fuel pump without response, the pilot declared a MAYDAY emergency on the company's internal frequency. The aircraft was landed in a controlled manner in a field in Vereda Pedrera, about 3 kilometers from the farm and 5 kilometers from La Lucha airstrip. Irregular terrain caused a dynamic rollover, and the aircraft came to rest inverted. ## Survivability and aftermath The pilot, a 62-year-old with a valid medical certificate and extensive flight experience, exited the aircraft under his own power and moved away from the scene. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and exploded twice, being destroyed by post-impact fire. The pilot was uninjured and was transported for medical evaluation. A high-pressure gas pipeline crossing the accident site sustained minor damage. ## Investigation findings The investigation determined the probable cause to be a possible failure of the fuel pump due to gear wear, which limited the fuel flow required by the system, reducing pressure and fuel supply to the engine and causing the loss of power. Contributing factors included the operator's lack of inspection procedures and technical documentation to determine the actual service life of aircraft components, and the absence in the operator's maintenance manual of a procedure limiting the actual service life of fuel pumps. The investigation issued three operational safety recommendations.