What happened
On February 18, 2009, a PIPER PA-28-161, registration EC-IYU, departed from Jerez Airport (LEJR) for a solo flight intended for takeoff and landing practice. During the flight, while the aircraft was on the left downwind leg of runway 20, the engine failed. The pilot declared an emergency and prepared for an off-airport landing.
As the aircraft approached the landing site, a field northeast of the airport, the pilot deployed the flaps to 20 degrees and then 40 degrees. During the descent, the pilot followed emergency procedures, including closing the fuel selector valve and shutting off the fuel pump and mixture. The aircraft touched down on terrain that crossed a boundary between two fields at different elevations. This uneven ground caused the aircraft to bounce, leading to a nose-over where the propeller struck the ground. The pilot escaped the aircraft without injury, but the aircraft sustained important damage to the nose gear, the propeller, and the engine air intake.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine failure and the condition of the fuel system. Post-accident inspections of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or internal damage. While the fuel quality was confirmed to be normal and the electric fuel pump was functioning correctly, investigators discovered that fuel was not reaching the gascolator located at the firewall before the carburetor.
Findings
- The investigation established that the engine failure was caused by the fuel selector valve being left in an intermediate position between the left and right tanks during the fuel tank changeover. This position interrupted the fuel flow to the engine.
- The pilot's emergency procedures, including the configuration of the flaps and the shutdown of engine components, were consistent with the aircraft's flight manual.
- The selection of the landing site was considered appropriate given the emergency circumstances.