What happened
On May 25, 2025, a Piper PA-11, registration LV-YNS, departed from the Aero Club San Martín in the Mendoza province of Argentina for a local recreational flight. While cruising, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power, which was immediately followed by the engine stopping entirely.
In response to the engine failure, the pilot performed an emergency landing in an unprepared field. During the landing sequence, the right wing of the aircraft struck low-lying vegetation, causing the plane to veer toward the right side. There were no injuries and no significant damage to the aircraft was reported.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted as a desk investigation. Following the event, the aircraft was inspected at an aviation repair workshop. This technical inspection found no mechanical evidence of engine failure that could account for the loss of power.
Meteorological data from the time of the incident showed clear skies, a temperature of 20.2 °C, and visibility of 15 km. However, an analysis of the atmospheric conditions indicated a moderate probability of carburetor icing during the cruise phase of the flight.
Findings
- The engine experienced a loss of power and subsequent shutdown during the cruise phase.
- The pilot successfully executed an emergency landing in an unprepared field.
- Carburetor icing was identified as a potential contributing factor, as meteorological conditions were consistent with a moderate probability of ice formation, although this could not be definitively confirmed as the cause.