What happened
On June 24, 2022, a Cessna TU206G, registration OK-ROY, was conducting commercial tandem parachute jumps at the Aleksandrowice aerodrome (EPBA). Following a successful first flight, the pilot prepared for a second departure with two tandem pilots and one single jumper on board. During the takeoff roll, the engine power decreased, and the engine stopped approximately 20 meters above the ground.
Unable to maintain altitude or turn back to the runway due to low airspeed, the pilot executed an emergency landing on a cultivated field adjacent to the airfield. The aircraft experienced a very hard touchdown and subsequently collided with a property fence. The impact caused the front landing gear to break and the propeller blades to bend. Despite the impact, all 6 occupants sustained only minor injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's fuel system, maintenance records, and flight data. Investigators analyzed video footage from the jumpers' cameras, which provided critical evidence of the engine's power loss and fuel flow readings. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's pre-flight actions and the configuration of the fuel valves in the cabin.
Technical inspections of the wreckage revealed that while the engine compartment was clean and no mechanical failures were present, the right fuel tank was completely empty. Investigators determined that the fuel valve had been set to draw fuel only from the right tank during the previous flight, and the pilot failed to ensure the correct tank was selected for the subsequent departure.
Findings
- The engine shutdown was caused by a lack of fuel supply.
- The fuel valve in the cabin was set to a position that drew fuel from a tank containing insufficient quantities for the planned flight.
- The pilot failed to use a pre-takeoff checklist, which would have identified the incorrect valve setting.
- The aircraft sustained serious structural damage, including a broken fuselage, damaged wing tips, and a destroyed passenger bench, all resulting from the hard landing and collision with the fence.
- No mechanical or technical malfunctions contributed to the engine failure.