Introduction
On July 4, 2021, at approximately 20:55 UTC, a Piper PA-A-38-112 aircraft, registered LV-OMS, departed from Aeroclub Villa Mercedes in San Luis, Argentina, for a local general aviation flight. The flight, conducted under visual flight rules, lasted about 25 minutes before the accident occurred.
Flight History
The pilot, holding a private pilot license, performed routine preflight checks in accordance with the approved flight manual. After takeoff, the aircraft climbed to the vicinity of the aerodrome and conducted turns overhead. The pilot then landed and executed a 180-degree turn to position for another takeoff. During the subsequent takeoff roll, at the moment of rotation, the pilot heard an unusual noise and felt a jolt near the nose gear area. A smell resembling hydraulic fluid was perceived, leading the pilot to suspect a failure of the nose gear strut.
Accident Sequence
The pilot decided to return to the aerodrome. During the landing approach, the pilot kept the nose wheel elevated as long as possible. Upon touchdown, the main wheels made contact, and the aircraft decelerated. As the nose wheel lowered and contacted the runway, the aircraft began to veer left. The pilot applied opposite rudder and braking but could not regain directional control. The aircraft departed the left side of runway 19, approximately 310 meters from the threshold, onto soft terrain. It then overturned, coming to rest inverted with a heading of 170 degrees.
Investigation Findings
Investigators from the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST) examined the runway and surrounding area. The ground on the left margin of the runway had been recently leveled with a tractor and plow to eliminate burrows of local rodents. The soil was soft. Runway markings indicated a 110-meter tire track from the first contact point to the aircraft's final position. The aircraft's cabin sustained minor deformation but remained intact. The pilot and single passenger exited unaided and reported no injuries. Weather conditions were daylight with good visibility (10 km), wind from 110 degrees at 8 knots, no significant phenomena, and no cloud cover.
Aftermath
The aircraft, a Piper PA-A-38-112 (LV-OMS), sustained substantial damage. No other injuries or damage were reported. The investigation did not state a probable cause.