What happened
On November 13, 2024, a Beechcraft G36 Bonanza, registration LV-KDG, was performing a relocation flight from Ezpeleta to San Francisco, via Rafaela. During the initial leg of the journey, near General Rodríguez, the crew identified an engine anomaly. Although there was no significant loss of power at that time, the crew elected to divert to General Rodríguez to conduct a technical inspection. At a local maintenance facility, a spark plug was replaced, after which the crew resumed the flight toward Pueblo Esther.
Shortly after departing General Rodríguez at approximately 21:00 UTC, the aircraft climbed to 4,000 feet. While cruising near San Antonio de Areco, the engine experienced a second loss of power. The crew subsequently decided to land at a nearby airstrip (LAD 2977). During the final approach to runway 25, the engine stopped completely as the pilot reduced power. The crew successfully deployed the landing gear and flaps, completing the landing at 21:45 UTC. There were no injuries to the crew, and the aircraft sustained no visible damage.
The investigation
As part of the investigation, a mechanic inspected the engine in coordination with the aircraft owner. Upon removing cylinder number five, the inspection revealed a significant accumulation of metallic debris originating from piston number three. The internal damage was severe enough that the cylinder assembly could not be removed from its position due to the internal blockage caused by the debris.
Investigators reviewed the aircraft's technical documentation, but no direct link was found between the maintenance records and the mechanical failure. The investigation was conducted as a desk investigation, as the event did not meet the criteria for a full field investigation.