What happened
On October 18, 2003, a Mooney PM20K, registration D-EAFX, was performing a non-commercial flight from Madrid/Barajas to Zaragoza under instrument flight rules. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the approach to runway 30R at Zaragoza Airport, the engine failed and stopped. Although the pilot could see the runway, the aircraft could not reach the paved surface. The pilot executed an emergency landing on a compacted earth platform within a construction site located approximately 1.5 km from the runway. After touchdown, the aircraft traveled roughly 2/5 of a kilometer before plunging over a 2-meter embankment. Both the pilot and the passenger were uninjured and able to exit the aircraft on their own.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine failure and the subsequent impact. Examination of the aircraft revealed significant damage to the main landing gear, including punctures to both wheels, and the collapse of the nose gear. The engine sustained crushing damage to lower components, and the propeller sustained damage, including one broken blade.
Investigators examined the fuel system and cockpit instrumentation. While the aircraft was equipped with reliable fuel level indicators, the investigation found that the fuel selector was set to the left tank. Upon draining the tanks, only 2 liters of fuel were recovered from the left tank, while 15 liters remained in the right tank. The investigation also reviewed the flight history, noting that the aircraft had flown several legs since its last refueling in Stuttgart, totaling over six hours of flight time since the last major uplift.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion in the selected tank.
- The pilot had selected the left tank, which had been depleted to near-empty levels.
- The presence of 15 liters of fuel in the right tank suggests that the aircraft might have reached the runway if the correct tank had been selected.
- Several contributing factors were identified, including potentially inadequate flight planning in Stuttgart regarding fuel requirements, an incorrect estimation of fuel uplift, or unexpected headwinds increasing consumption.
- The pilot's decision to depart Madrid/Barajas without the ability to refuel (as the airport lacked AVGAS 100LL) involved an excessive risk, as the available fuel was insufficient to guarantee safe reserves for the intended flight path.