What happened
On 3 November 2022, a Piper PA-32-300, registration G-WINS, was conducting an instrument training flight near Jersey Airport. The flight, which involved two crew members, was part of a training session for a pilot holding a PPL. After completing a descent from 4,000 ft to 2,000 ft, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power, with manifold pressure dropping significantly.
The crew attempted several troubleshooting steps, including switching the electric fuel pump, selecting alternative fuel tanks, and adjusting the mixture, but none of these actions restored power. As the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude, the pilot-in-command prepared for a ditching. The crew ensured that life rafts and emergency equipment were accessible before the aircraft impacted the water. Both crew members remained uninjured during the ditching, but the aircraft sank approximately three minutes after contact with the sea. The crew was subsequently rescued from their life raft by the RNLI.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the engine failure and the subsequent ditching. Because the aircraft was not recovered from the seabed, investigators were unable to examine the engine or the wreckage directly. There were no onboard recordings or photographs available for review.
Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance and fueling records. The aircraft had been refueled on 15 October 2022, and the flight in question was the second since that refueling. While the possibility of fuel contamination was considered, it was deemed unlikely based on the available information.