Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion leads to emergency landing…

Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion leads to emergency landing in Albacete

Casualties unknown • Carcelén (Albacete), ES

A PZL M18A Dromader engaged in firefighting operations experienced an engine failure near Carcelén, resulting in an emergency landing and landing gear collapse.

What happened

On August 12, 2006, at approximately 20:50 local time, a PZL M18A Dromader, registration EC-IVU, was performing aerial firefighting operations near Carcelén, Albacete. The aircraft, operated by Ángel Martínez Ridao Tratamientos Aéreos, had been conducting water drops to combat a forest fire in the Petrola area. After an initial period of operations, the aircraft transitioned between bases in Carcelén and Ontur to facilitate water loading.

While returning to the Carcelén base following a final drop, the engine failed approximately 4 km from the runway. Although the pilot attempted to restart the engine, the failure persisted. Due to the low altitude, the pilot performed an emergency landing in the most suitable available area. During the landing roll, the aircraft traveled approximately 80 meters before the left landing gear strut broke, causing the aircraft to veer into a ravine where it overturned. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured.

The investigation

Investigators examined the wreckage and found the fuel tanks to be empty, with no evidence of leaks or spills on the aircraft or the ground. Records indicated that the aircraft had flown for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes since its last refueling, following a 45-minute flight the previous day. The operator's policy was to begin each day with full tanks, regardless of the previous day's flight duration.

The investigation noted that while the aircraft had refueled at the Ontur base, that location only provided water, not fuel. Evidence from the propeller indicated that it struck the ground with almost no power or rotation.

Findings

The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
The aircraft began its flight day with less fuel than intended due to the operator's refueling policy.
The lack of fuel availability at the Ontur base prevented the pilot from replenishing the tanks during the mission.
The fuel quantity indicators used in the aircraft are not sufficiently precise for accurately estimating remaining fuel levels when levels are low.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the engine failure and subsequent emergency landing was the exhaustion of fuel, exacerbated by a refueling policy that did not account for the previous day's flight time and the unavailability of fuel at the intermediate operating base.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2006-08-12 PZL M18 Dromader accident near Carcelén (Albacete), ES?

A PZL M18A Dromader engaged in firefighting operations experienced an engine failure near Carcelén, resulting in an emergency landing and landing gear collapse.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-08-12 involved a PZL M18 Dromader, registration EC-IVU, at Carcelén (Albacete), ES.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the engine failure and subsequent emergency landing was the exhaustion of fuel, exacerbated by a refueling policy that did not account for the previous day's flight time and the unavailability of fuel at the intermediate operating base.

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