Cargo Aircraft Crash Near Puerto Gaitán After Left Engine Failure (HK-2663)

Incident Overview and Immediate Aftermath A cargo aircraft departed Puerto Gaitán Airport on Runway 04 for a flight to Villavicencio. Shortly after takeoff, the left engine exploded and caught fire. As the aircraft lost speed and altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash-landed in an open field located 2.6 km southwest of the airport and burst into flames. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries, while the aircraft was destroyed by the post-crash fire. ## Official Findings The official investigation identified the probable cause as the failure of the left engine following the detachment of the head of a cylinder shortly after takeoff. Deficiencies in maintenance processes contributed to this situation. The crew failed to follow emergency procedures when the left engine caught fire and exploded, which reduced the power on the right engine. Under these conditions, the aircraft was unable to maintain a safe altitude, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing.