What happened
On the afternoon of 10th September 2023, a Piper PA-32-301, registration N106MR, was conducting a flight from North Eleuthera International Airport toward Leonard Thompson International Airport in Abaco, Bahamas. The aircraft was carrying five occupants at the time of the occurrence.
While approximately five nautical miles from the destination, the pilot observed a sudden loss of engine power. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a heavily wooded area roughly 4.97 miles south of the airport. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft's fuselage, propeller, undercarriage, and both wings, with the right wing becoming detached from the airframe. Despite the severity of the impact, all five persons on board were able to exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The AAIA conducted a detailed investigation, which included a comprehensive teardown of the aircraft and engine by the manufacturers, Piper and Ly대한 Lycoming. Investigators examined the airframe fuel system and found that no fuel remained in either the left or right wing tanks. While some fuel was present in the fuel selector valve and sump, the firewall fuel line leading to the fuel servo was empty.
Testing of the engine-driven fuel pump and the electric fuel pump confirmed that both units were fully functional. Furthermore, the investigation found no mechanical defects or obstructions in the fuel lines or engine components that would have prevented normal operation. Maintenance records also confirmed the aircraft had been maintained according to all required manufacturer specifications and regulatory standards.
Findings
- The engine and fuel delivery systems were found to be in proper working order with no mechanical failures identified.
- There was no evidence of fuel leakage at the crash site, as no fuel was detected by sight or smell by first responders.
- The aircraft had previously refueled with 30 gallons of AVGAS during its flight rotation, but the initial fuel level prior to this addition could not be verified.
- The primary cause of the engine power loss was fuel exhaustion.