What happened
The aircraft was on final approach to its destination when it experienced a sudden loss of engine power. This event occurred approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL) as the aircraft neared the airport. Upon detecting the power failure, the pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching fuel selectors. However, the pilot did not utilize the proper emergency procedures required for such a situation.
Despite the attempt to restart, the engine failed to recover power. The aircraft continued its descent and collided with a wire fence. The fence was located within the chosen forced landing site but was obscured by tall vegetation, making it difficult to see during the emergency approach. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed critical fuel system issues that contributed to the power loss. Investigators found that the left fuel tank, which was in operation at the time of the power loss, contained fuel below its usable level. This indicated that the engine had effectively run dry from the primary source.
Additionally, the right fuel tank was found to be near its unusable fuel level, meaning very little usable fuel remained in that tank as well. In contrast, the auxiliary tanks were discovered to be nearly full. This discrepancy suggested that the pilot may have been unaware of the actual fuel quantity available in the operational tanks or failed to transfer fuel from the auxiliary tanks correctly.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was the exhaustion of usable fuel in the left tank. The failure to utilize proper procedures for managing fuel during an engine power loss exacerbated the situation. The presence of a hidden fence in the forced landing site, obscured by vegetation, contributed to the collision upon impact.
The pilot's decision-making process regarding fuel management and emergency response was found to be inadequate. Despite having nearly full auxiliary tanks, the operational tanks were depleted or near depletion, leading to the inability to maintain engine power during a critical phase of flight.