What happened
During the departure phase from Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, an aircraft encountered a critical mechanical issue while climbing. The left engine ceased functioning, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency and receive clearance to return to the airfield.
As the flight progressed, the crew was unable to feather the propeller on the failed left engine, which led to significant aerodynamic instability. To avoid a more catastrophic event, the captain executed a controlled belly landing in a nearby open field. The aircraft slid for several dozen meters before coming to a complete stop. Despite the impact of the landing, all 28 occupants were evacuated from the plane without injury. The aircraft was subsequently declared a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the engine failure was triggered by a hydraulic leak. The root cause was identified as a maintenance error, specifically that a hydraulic hose had not been correctly reconnected following recent service work, causing it to fail shortly after takeoff.