What happened
On March 8, 2025, a pilot and a passenger arrived at Gliwice Airport (EPGL) to conduct a flight in a Pipistrel Virus SW 121A, registration SP-SPB. Following a pre-flight inspection, the pilot recorded 27 liters of fuel in the technical log and started the engine. After taxiing to the threshold of runway 08 and receiving clearance, the aircraft took off.
Approximately 25 seconds after liftoff, while at an altitude of about 70 meters AGL and still over the runway, the engine began to run unevenly. The pilot initiated a turn to return to the airport and declared an emergency on the "Gliwice Radio" frequency. During the maneuver, after a 180-degree turn and a subsequent 40-degree change in direction, the stall warning device activated. Approximately 60 seconds after the start of the takeoff roll, the engine failed completely. The aircraft was at its minimum altitude and positioned on a short approach to the airport when the pilot performed an emergency landing on a grassy area, landing diagonally to runway 26R. The aircraft sustained no damage, and the entire flight was captured on a cockpit camera.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pre-flight procedures, fuel management, and the sequence of engine performance degradation. The investigators reviewed the cockpit camera footage and the technical logs regarding fuel and oil levels recorded prior to departure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure and subsequent emergency landing was fuel exhaustion in the right tank, as the pilot had set the cockpit fuel selector valve to that specific tank prior to takeoff.
- The pilot lacked awareness regarding the actual fuel levels in the tanks before the flight.
- The pilot was unaware of the minimum fuel requirements necessary for the planned route.
Safety action
- The operator conducted immediate training for pilots using the Pipistral Virus SW 121A regarding verifying actual fuel quantities, flight planning for fuel consumption, and performing proper pre-flight inspections.
- The organization's training syllabus for the Pipistrel Virus SW 121A will be expanded to include detailed descriptions of the fuel system, specifically focusing on fuel level checks and tank switching procedures.
- Instructors within the organization will now verify pilots' abilities to plan fuel reserves, calculate consumption, and manage fuel distribution between tanks.