Incident Summary
On 4 November 2024, at 18:20 UTC, a Cessna 150-C aircraft, registration LV-HCR, experienced a powerplant failure during a flight from San Rafael Airport (SAMR) to San Martín Airport (SAMI) in Mendoza Province, Argentina. The aircraft was operated by Aeroclub San Rafael and was conducting a general aviation training flight.
Flight Details
The flight departed San Rafael Airport and was in the cruise phase approximately 30 minutes after takeoff when the engine began to malfunction. The pilot observed increased vibration and a decrease in engine revolutions per minute (RPM). After notifying air traffic control of his intention to return to the departure airport, the pilot determined that he could not maintain flight and elected to perform an emergency landing on a rural road. The landing was completed successfully. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained injuries, and the aircraft suffered no damage. No third parties were affected.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 150-C, serial number 17443, with a maximum takeoff weight under 2250 kg. The pilot-in-command was a 28-year-old male holding a private pilot license issued in Argentina. The flight was a non-commercial training operation by a flying club/school.
Findings
After the aircraft was recovered to a maintenance facility at San Rafael Airport, an inspection revealed that several spark plugs were not functioning correctly due to carbon accumulation on the electrodes, preventing proper spark generation. The spark plugs were replaced, and engine ground tests were conducted successfully. The aircraft was returned to service with the malfunction resolved.