What happened
On December 7, 2003, a Piper PA-28-180, registration EC-CGI, was participating in a timed flight competition near Ibiza, Spain. The flight was part of a circuit involving several checkpoints, including San Rafael and San Antonio. During the flight, the crew—consisting of two pilots and two passengers—performed a low approach at Ibiza Airport to facilitate a pilot change.
While flying toward the San Rafael checkpoint at approximately 50 and 500 feet above the ground, the engine failed. The crew attempted several restarts, including activating the electric fuel pump and switching fuel tanks, but the engine failed to maintain operation. Due to the low altitude and the terrain, the pilot performed an emergency landing in an almond grove near the San Rafael urban area. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, including the loss of the main landing gear and damage to the engine mount. Both pilots sustained injuries, and one passenger also suffered a minor head injury.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined the aircraft's fuel system, engine components, and the flight's fuel consumption history. Investigators analyzed the fuel levels remaining in both tanks and compared them against the estimated consumption from previous flights in the competition. The investigation also evaluated the possibility of carburetor icing, given the atmospheric conditions (18°C temperature and 10°C dew point), and reviewed the crew's adherence to the aircraft's emergency procedures.
Findings
- The investigation established that the engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion from the tank being utilized during the flight.
- Although the crew believed they were using the left tank, evidence suggests the engine was actually drawing from the right tank, which had been depleted to an unusable level.
- The fuel system, including pumps, filters, and lines, was found to be in good working order.
- The crew did not strictly follow the engine failure checklist; they initially activated the electric fuel pump instead of first switching the fuel selector to the other tank. However, the low altitude likely left insufficient time for a successful restart even if the correct procedure had been followed.
- While atmospheric conditions were conducive to carburetor icing, investigators ruled this out as the cause because fuel pressure dropped to zero, which would not occur in a purely icing-related event.