Flight History
On 17 December 2011, a Cessna T188C was conducting touch-and-go landings at Quevedo airstrip as part of the pilot's type-rating training. The pilot, a 29-year-old Ecuadorian commercial pilot with 621.4 total flight hours (16.3 on type), had completed six touch-and-go landings without incident.
Accident Sequence
During the seventh landing, upon touchdown of the right main landing gear, the gear leg fractured. The pilot initiated a go-around and declared an emergency. He circled the airstrip for 34 minutes to consume fuel. He then performed a landing on the left main landing gear, keeping the aircraft's left gear on the runway surface while veering left. The right gear leg made contact with the runway before the aircraft departed the left side of the runway. The aircraft came to rest 670 meters from threshold 18, oriented at 120 degrees.
Pilot Actions and Survivability
The pilot evacuated the aircraft without assistance and sustained no injuries. Emergency services (fire and medical) were present but not needed. The seat and safety belt functioned correctly.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained: fracture and separation of the lower portion of the right main landing gear leg, wheel and brake assembly; separation of the right gear leg support; impacts to the lower right fuselage and right wing root; and propeller blade bending and tip damage.
Investigation Findings
Metallurgical examination of the failed right main landing gear leg, conducted by the Escuela Politécnica Nacional, determined that the fracture was caused by material fatigue, which ultimately led to the leg's failure under landing loads. Meteorological conditions were calm and did not contribute to the accident (wind 180° at 4 knots, visibility 10+ km). The runway surface was dry and free of debris or defects.
Additional Observations
The operator did not have an accident prevention plan appropriate to its operations, and a revised General Operations Manual had not yet been approved by the aviation authority at the time of the accident.