What happened
On February 25, 2025, a Piper PA-25-150 aircraft, registered as LV-ICU, departed from the Pergamino aerodrome in the province of Buenos Aires for a local flight training mission. The flight was being conducted as a non-commercial instructional operation.
While the aircraft was in the cruise phase of the flight, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of engine power. Due to the engine failure, the pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in an unprepared grassy field in a rural area near the town of Pinzón, approximately 9 km from the departure aerodrome. While the pilot escaped the aircraft without injury, the impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) conducted an investigation into the event, focusing on the mechanical and operational circumstances surrounding the power loss. The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which were found to be current, and the engine components, specifically the Lycoming O-320-A2B engine. The investigation also reviewed the flight conditions, noting that the weather was within visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with calm winds and good visibility at the time of the occurrence.