What happened
On July 27, 2006, a Cessna 152, registration CS-AUS, operated by Nortávia – Transportes Aéreos, SA, departed from Maia Aerodrome (LPVL) for a visual navigation training flight. The crew, consisting of a flight instructor and a student pilot, initially flew via Fátima to Santarém, where they performed a touch-and-go before proceeding to Santa Cruz (LPSC).
Following a brief stop at Santa Cruz, the aircraft began its return flight to Maia. During this leg, the aircraft flew at a low altitude along the coast toward Ovar, later climbing to 2,000 feet AMSL. As the aircraft approached its destination, the engine began to sputter and eventually failed. The instructor declared an emergency with Porto ATC, stating that the aircraft could not reach the destination aerodrome in a glide.
The instructor identified an agricultural path within a property near Sobrado, Valongo, as a potential landing site. While the pilot was stabilized on final approach with flaps extended, an agricultural tractor emerged from a building onto the path. To avoid a collision, the pilot executed an evasive maneuver to the right, causing the aircraft to strike the posts supporting a vineyard. The impact caused significant damage to the wings and fuselage, resulting in the aircraft being written off.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the fuel management and the sequence of events leading to the engine failure. Investigators examined the fuel levels recorded after the stop at Santa Cruz, which showed 2/25 liters in the left tank and 22 liters in the right tank. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed no mechanical or electrical defects in the engine or fuel system.
Analysis of the flight profile revealed that the crew did not perform updated fuel calculations after realizing the fuel levels were lower than expected following the first leg of the flight. Furthermore, the decision to fly the return leg at a low altitude increased the fuel consumption rate, as the engine was operated with a rich mixture.
Findings
- The engine stopped because the usable fuel was exhausted during the flight.
- The crew failed to update their flight plan or refuel after observing low fuel levels at Santa Cruz.
- The flight was conducted at a low altitude during the return leg, which led to higher fuel consumption.
- The instructor failed to follow established operational procedures regarding fuel calculations and flight monitoring.
- The instructor was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact, resulting in minor head injuries.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear, leading to its total loss.