Incident Overview
On May 9, 2022, at 12:20 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 (Cherokee Pathfinder), registration HK1792, operated as a non-regular air taxi charter flight, experienced a serious incident during landing at Aeródromo La Victoria in Cumaribo, Vichada, Colombia. The aircraft had departed from Vanguardia Airport in Villavicencio, Meta, with one pilot and two passengers on board. The flight lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
Sequence of Events
Prior to landing, the pilot conducted a flyover of the aerodrome to check the runway for obstacles, people, or animals. After visually confirming the runway appeared clear, the pilot initiated an approach to runway 04, configured the aircraft, and completed the pre-landing checklist. During touchdown, the left main landing gear struck a hidden ant hill concealed by weeds on the grass runway. The impact caused the shear pins of the landing gear torque link to break, allowing the damper piston to exit its housing. The aircraft tilted and skidded left, coming to a complete stop approximately 180 meters from the runway threshold.
Occupant and Aircraft Condition
The pilot and two passengers evacuated the aircraft unaided and were uninjured. The aircraft sustained minor damage limited to the left main landing gear assembly; no structural damage, propeller deformation, or cracks in the fuselage or wings were found. The engine and airframe exhibited no pre-existing malfunctions that could have contributed to the event.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined the probable cause to be the detachment of the left landing gear resulting from impact with a hidden ant hill on the runway, which was not visible during final approach due to the presence of weeds. Contributing factors included the presence of weeds and natural obstacles that reduced pilot visibility, the lack of an adequate pre-landing runway inspection that could have located and removed the ant hill, and insufficient maintenance and protection of the grass airfield against weed and obstacle intrusion.
Probable Cause
Detachment of the left landing gear caused by impact with a hidden ant hill on the runway, not visible during final approach due to weeds.