What happened
Following departure from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, an aircraft was climbing to an altitude of 1,900 feet when the captain reported intense vibrations originating from the left engine. In response to the mechanical issue, the pilot was cleared to return to the airfield. The crew proceeded to shut down the left engine and initiated an approach toward runway 22.
During the final approach phase, the pilot determined that the aircraft could reach the airport perimeter. However, the flight ended in a belly landing approximately one kilometer before reaching the runway threshold. The aircraft came to a stop in an adjacent field and sustained damage beyond repair. Despite the impact, all 20 occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage uninjured.
Findings
Investigations into the engine failure revealed that the vibrations and subsequent loss of power were caused by improperly adjusted intake valves on cylinders number 8 and 9. These valves remained stuck in the open position, which led to excessive temperatures within the engine components.