What happened
During a cargo operation from Puerto Gaitán Airport Runway 04 to Villavicencio, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure of its left engine. The incident occurred immediately following takeoff, during which the engine exploded and ignited a fire. As the plane lost both airspeed and altitude, the crew attempted to perform an emergency landing.
The aircraft ultimately crash-landed in an open field situated approximately 2.6 km southwest of the airport. Upon impact, the plane caught fire, leading to the total destruction of the airframe. Despite the intensity of the post-crash flames, all three crew members managed to evacuate the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the left engine failed because a cylinder head detached during the initial climb. This mechanical failure was exacerbated by deficiencies in maintenance procedures. Additionally, the investigation noted that the crew did not correctly execute emergency protocols following the engine explosion; specifically, they reduced power on the remaining right engine. This error prevented the aircraft from maintaining sufficient altitude to continue flight, necessitating the forced landing.