Flight History
On 23 March 2023, the Sinus 912 motor glider, registration VT-GDI, operated by Jharkhand Flying Institute, was scheduled for training sorties at Dhanbad airport. A preflight inspection by a DGCA-licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) at 09:00 IST found 27 liters of fuel onboard, which was deemed sufficient for local training, and no discrepancies were noted. The pilot reported for duty at 09:40 IST and signed the breath analyzer register without undergoing the test per prevailing practice. The aircraft was accepted at 10:00 IST.
Two dual training sorties of 20 minutes each were flown between 10:00 and 10:45 IST with a 5-minute interval. After the second sortie, at 11:00 IST, the pilot requested and received 10 additional liters of fuel, bringing the total to 35 liters. Flying paused for lunch. The pilot's family also arrived at the hangar during the break.
A third dual training sortie of 20 minutes took off at 16:50 IST and landed at 17:10 IST. All three sorties were uneventful with no reported snags. After the third sortie, the pilot shut down the engine and turned the fuel valves to the closed position. The pilot then exited the aircraft.
Accident Sequence
The fourth sortie, a joy ride with one passenger, followed the third. The pilot switched on the engine and promptly initiated the take-off roll on runway 25. The aircraft became airborne within seconds of engine start. Immediately after takeoff, a low fuel pressure alarm appeared on the cockpit display. Seconds later, the engine stopped mid-air. The pilot attempted a single engine restart, which failed, and the aircraft began losing altitude. Within approximately one and a half minutes of becoming airborne, the aircraft crashed in a residential area about 1 km southwest of Dhanbad airport.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The accident site was at latitude 23°83'94'' N, longitude 86°41'63'' E.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Sinus 912 motor glider, nationality Indian, registration VT-GDI, owned by M/s Aero Club of India and operated by the Director, Jharkhand Flying Institute. The pilot held a valid DGCA Glider Pilot License (PL(G)). No flight recorders were fitted.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the accident occurred due to fuel starvation to the engine on account of a closed fuel valve while taking off.