What happened
On May 2, 2021, a Piper PA-A-38-112, registration LV-MZX, departed from Puerta de Avalos aerodrome in the Jujuy province for a recreational flight. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power accompanied by engine vibrations.
The pilot attempted several emergency procedures to restore power, including activating the electric fuel pump, adjusting the mixture to rich, and cycling the magnetos. When these actions failed to stabilize the engine, the pilot initiated an emergency landing in an unprepared, plowed field near El Carmen. During the landing roll, the aircraft entered a turn and overturned, coming to rest in an inverted position. The impact caused substantial damage to the cockpit upper structure, the left wing tip, the vertical stabilizer, and the landing gear, while also causing a propeller blade to break.
The investigation
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the investigation was conducted remotely. Evidence was gathered through pilot testimony and photographs provided by individuals at the scene. The investigation team coordinated with the aircraft owner to obtain maintenance reports regarding the engine failure from the involved aeronautical workshop; however, these reports had not been received at the time of the report's publication.
Findings
- The specific cause of the engine power loss could not be definitively determined.
- The soft ground of the plowed field acted as a contributing factor that caused the aircraft to capsize during the emergency landing.