What happened
On February 18, 2019, a Cessna 172 A, registration LV-GTV, was performing a general aviation flight from San Antonio Oeste to Trelew, Chubut. After approximately two hours and twenty minutes of flight time, the aircraft was seven nautical miles from the Trelew VOR when the engine failed. The pilot executed an emergency landing on a rural road near the Almirante A. Zar International Airport. The aircraft slid for 340 meters before coming to a stop, sustaining no damage. The pilot and two passengers were able to exit the aircraft without injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the technical state of the engine and the efficiency of the search and rescue response. Investigators examined the engine components, including the spark plugs, oil levels, and air filter. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the coordination between the Emergency Operations Center (COE) and Search and Rescue (SAR) services following the pilot's emergency declaration. The search for the aircraft lasted several hours, with ground support teams arriving at the site at 21:20 hours.
Findings
- The engine failure and subsequent shutdown were caused by fuel exhaustion.
- The engine was operating with insufficient oil levels, and the oil used was found to be unsuitable for the engine.
- The air filter used was not of aviation grade and likely contributed to increased fuel consumption.
- The spark plugs showed advanced deterioration, with several plugs exhibiting irregular electrode gaps and intermittent or short-circuiting performance during testing.
- There were discrepancies between the actual technical condition of the engine components and the aircraft's maintenance documentation.
- The aircraft was not equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).
- The search and rescue operation was hindered by a lack of coordination between the COE and SAR teams, a lack of appropriate communication equipment, and the absence of global positioning tools, which delayed the arrival of rescue teams.