Accident Overview
On June 4, 2021, an Air Tractor AT301, registration HK-4953, was conducting agricultural spraying operations from La Lucha airstrip (SKGM) near Ciénaga, Magdalena, Colombia. The aircraft was on its second flight of the day, carrying 50 gallons of fuel and 230 gallons of chemical product. The weather was visual meteorological conditions.
Flight and Engine Failure
The aircraft departed runway 14 at approximately 07:05 local time. During initial climb, at about 656 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a substantial loss of power, accompanied by loud noise and vibration. Seconds later, the engine quit. The pilot jettisoned the chemical load and attempted an in-flight restart using the manual fuel pump, but was unsuccessful.
Emergency Landing
Maintaining control, the pilot selected a field for an emergency landing. While approaching a banana plantation, the aircraft struck a cable (used to suspend banana transport carts). This impact caused a loss of control, and the aircraft crashed to the ground.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot exited the aircraft unassisted, suffering a minor injury to the right knee. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No fire occurred before or after the impact.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the engine failure was caused by the fracture of cylinder No. 7, leading to a loss of power. Five contributing factors were identified, primarily related to maintenance processes. Seven safety recommendations were issued.