What happened
On January 31, 2024, at 17:48 UTC, a Cessna 206G, registration YV1629, operated by INVERSIONES YV1629, C.A., departed from Santa Elena de Uairén Airport (SVSE) in Bolívar State, Venezuela. The flight was destined for the Escalera Indigenous Community with one pilot on board and approximately four hours of fuel autonomy.
Two minutes into the flight, while performing a left turn during the initial climb at an altitude of 35 feet, the pilot heard an unusual noise from the engine. Simultaneously, oil pressure began to decrease, causing the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly. The pilot declared an emergency with the Santa Elena tower and requested priority for a return to the airport. As the descent continued, the pilot shut down the engine and executed an emergency landing on flat terrain adjacent to the runway threshold of Santa Elena de Orinoco. The pilot sustained no injuries, but the aircraft suffered significant damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the structural damage to the aircraft, which included impacts to the left wing tip affecting internal spars and ribs, as well as dents to the lower nose section and substantial damage to the nose landing gear.
Technical inspections of the Continental engine revealed that the piston rings had fractured due to contact with the cylinder walls, leading to an immediate loss of engine performance. While components such as the crankshaft, camshaft, and connecting rods were found to be in good structural condition, evidence of cracks and impacts was noted on the engine crankcase. The investigation also reviewed maintenance records from OMAC-N°668 Engine Aircraft C.A. and verified the pilot's commercial license and medical certification.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was the fracture of piston rings, which resulted in a significant loss of power.
- The use of 10W oil instead of the manufacturer-recommended 20W50 oil contributed to the incident; the high viscosity of the 10W oil at low temperatures prevented adequate lubrication of the lifters and camshaft during operation.
- The aircraft sustained structural damage to the left wing, nose, and landing gear as a result of the emergency landing.