Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A Marquise near San Fernando: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 2017 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-MCV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Fernando – Las Lomitas
MSN:
361
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
682
Captain / Total hours on type:
58.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5804
Aircraft flight cycles:
4670
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Fernando Airport in Buenos Aires, while in initial climb, the pilot was contacted by ATC about an apparent transponder issue. The crew did not respond when, few seconds later, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a marshy area located in the delta of Paraná de la Palmas. The wreckage was found on August 19 about 17 km north of San Fernando Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Matías Ronzano,
Passengers:
Emanuel Vega,
Matías Aristi.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during climb due to the combination of the following factors:
- The particular characteristics of the aircraft;
- The attention required by the transponder as it is not displayed by air traffic control;
- The detour of the planned flight at the request of the inspection department of air traffic;
- Aircraft trajectory management with autopilot switched off;
- The pilot's limited experience in instrument flight conditions. In addition, the absence of additional instruction in the aircraft type (due to the lack of specific regulations) can be considered a contributing factor, according to the probable scenario described above. In addition, the research identified the following elements with potential impact in operational safety:
- Absence of the TAWS system on the aircraft in non-conformity with the established RAAC 91;
- Lack of effective means to enable the flight plan office to quickly determine whether an aircraft has operating restrictions;
- Shortcomings in the training of staff in the units ATS and SAR in search and rescue.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in San Fernando

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2015 at 0640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-ZSZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Fernando - Rio Gallegos
MSN:
35A-235
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9851
Captain / Total hours on type:
6200.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
39
Aircraft flight hours:
12190
Aircraft flight cycles:
9517
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Buenos Aires-San Fernando Airport on a positioning flight to Río Gallegos, carrying two pilots. During the takeoff roll, the copilot (pilot-in-command) noticed that the left engine N1 reached a value of 101% instead of 95% like the right engine. At that point the aircraft had already traveled 380 metres. As the aircraft started to veer to the right, the copilot decided to abandon the takeoff procedure without informing the captain. The power levers were brought back to idle and the copilot started to brake. After a course of about 980 metres, the right engine N1 value dropped to 30-40% while the left engine remained at 101%. Then the captain took over control, deployed briefly the thrust reverser system when the aircraft departed the runway to the right. While rolling in a grassy area, it struck a drainage ditch located 80 metres from the runway, lost its undercarriage then slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The most likely cause of the uncommanded acceleration and subsequent overspeed condition was a contamination of retained particles present within the fuel control unit (FCU). The contamination was a short-lived random condition, as evidenced by the fact that after about 30 seconds the power lever regained control of the left engine. On a general aviation flight, during the take-off run, the LJ35 LV-ZSZ suffered a runway excursion on the right side, and a subsequent aircraft fire.
The accident was due to the combination of the following factors:
- The uncommanded acceleration of the left engine at the start of the take-off run,
- The initial lack of response of the left engine to the requests of the corresponding power lever,
- The difficulties of the crew in managing an unusual condition of the aircraft in accordance with guidelines established in the AFM,
- The ambivalence in the existing regulations for the authorization of a co-pilot in an aircraft that require two pilots for certification,
- The duality in the application of safety standards allowed by the existing normative regulations.
Although unrelated, the state of the runway 05/23 protection zone at the San Fernando Aerodrome contributed to the severity of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B90 King Air in Laguna del Sauce: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 2015 at 2038 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-CEO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Laguna del Sauce – San Fernando
MSN:
LJ-454
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
9348
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5095
Aircraft flight hours:
10319
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Laguna del Sauce Airport on a charter flight to San Fernando Airport near Buenos Aires, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. Shortly after a night takeoff from Laguna del Sauce Airport runway 01, the aircraft entered a controlled descent and crashed in shallow water some 2 km northwest of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from impact with the ground without loss of control due to the combination of the following factors:
- The aircraft's climb profile did not meet the manufacturer's recommendations for speed and rate of climb,
- The center of gravity was outside the flight envelope,
- The total weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident was 124 kilos above the MTOW,
- Both pilots were tired due to a lack of rest time and a shift of more than 18 hours,
- The captain did not fly this type of aircraft since 1997 and was used to flying jets,
- The copilot had no experience on this type of aircraft despite being in possession of a valid license,
- The pilots' knowledge and understanding of the aircraft's systems and operation was inadequate,
- The operational checklists found on board the aircraft were not up to date,
- The pilots flew for the first time at night on this aircraft and for the second time together,
- The aircraft was operated under commercial rules on behalf of a travel agency while it could only fly privately,
- The instructor in charge of the training of both pilots and the person in charge of scheduling the flight refused to be questioned by the board of inquiry,
- An excessive workload for the crew and a lack of rest contributed to the pilots' loss of situational awareness,
- Both engines' compressors were running at low speed on impact,
- Both engines' propellers were turning at a speed close to low pitch,
- No mechanical anomalies were found on the engines and their components,
- Insufficient qualifications of the crew to fly on this type of aircraft,
- Pressure from the aircraft's owner to complete the flight,
- Crew fatigue and stress,
- Inadequate maintenance of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-500 Cheyenne I in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 2008 at 0619 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-MYX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Victoria
MSN:
31-7904045
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13109
Captain / Total hours on type:
31.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from runway 05 at Buenos Aires-San Fernando Airport, the pilot initiated a left turn at low altitude when the twin engine aircraft collided with two poles and two parked trucks then crashed on the ground, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A loss of power on the left engine shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- A probable inadequate compliance with emergency procedures,
- Probable little and discontinuous flight activity on the aircraft type during the year 2008,
- Low turn.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Bahía Blanca

Date & Time: Nov 27, 2001 at 0538 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-WSD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Bahía Blanca
MSN:
TC-237E
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8200
Captain / Total hours on type:
929.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
40
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, the crew started a night approach to Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport. The approach and landing on runway 34R were considered as normal. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure and the aircraft rolled for a distance of 1,200 metres when it started to deviate to the right. It veered off runway, rolled for 150 metres then lost its nose gear and came to a halt. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft veered off runway after landing due to the possible combination of the following factors:
- A possible (but not confirmed) failure or malfunction of the left engine reverse thrust system,
- Crosswind close to the maximums specified in the flight manual,
- Lack of corrective actions on part of the crew who failed to identify a possible failure,
- Inappropriate use of the nosewheel steering system.
Final Report: