What happened
On August 5, 2008, a PA-28R-200, registration PT-IBX, departed from Sítio Pouso do Aviador in Campo Grande, MS, bound for Fazenda Barranco Alto, Aquiduna, MS. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) with the pilot and three passengers. After landing at the destination and discharging the passengers, the pilot departed for the return trip to Campo Grande without a filed flight plan.
During the return leg, approximately 17.5 NM from the destination, the engine failed. The pilot attempted a forced landing in a wooded area on a private property near a local road. The aircraft struck several small trees before hitting the ground and sliding approximately 10 meters. The impact caused severe damage to the aircraft, specifically resulting in the separation of both wings from the fuselage and the breakage of the nose and left main landing gear. The pilot sustained light injuries and was treated at a hospital in Campo Grande.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's fuel system. Several pieces of evidence indicated that the engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion. Specifically, investigators found that the flight time recorded on a chronometer inside the cabin matched the estimated endurance of the fuel available at the time of departure. Furthermore, no traces of fuel were found in the engine drain, the fuel lines, or the ground beneath the ruptured lines at the crash site, despite the fuel tanks being torn open during the impact.
Findings
- Fuel exhaustion was the primary cause of the engine failure.
- The pilot failed to plan for sufficient fuel reserves, incorrectly estimating that the onboard fuel was adequate for the round trip.
- The pilot's judgment was flawed, as the fuel quantity did not meet the legal requirements for VFR operations, which mandate a minimum of 30 minutes of reserve fuel during the day.
- The aircraft's maintenance records and airworthiness certificates were up to date.