What happened
On 25 November 2021, a Pioneer 300 Hawk, registration G-OPYO, was conducting a private flight near Sleap Aerodrome in Shropshire. During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot assessed the fuel levels, noting that the left tank contained enough for nearly one hour of flight, while the right tank held approximately 30 minutes. To maintain a safe margin for the intended practice of circuits and go-arounds, the pilot intended to use the left tank.
After completing an initial circuit and a touch-and-go landing, the aircraft was on its second circuit. As the pilot descended on the base leg and began the turn toward final approach, the engine began to vibrate, lose power, and eventually stopped. The pilot declared a Mayday, retracted the flaps and undercarriage, and aligned the aircraft with Runway 36. Despite two attempts to restart the engine, the power unit would not reignite. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a nearby field. The aircraft struck a ditch and hit the far bank with significant force, resulting in damage to the fuselage underside and wings. The pilot sustained minor back pain but exited the aircraft unassisted.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation established that following the incident, a check of the fuel tanks revealed the right tank was completely empty, while the left tank remained at nearly the same level as before the flight. The investigation determined that the pilot had actually selected the right fuel tank rather than the left, leading to the engine running out of fuel.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by the selection of the empty right fuel tank instead of the intended left tank.
- The pilot did not monitor the fuel pressure or fuel tank level readings during the flight.