What happened
On 29 May 2023, an X’Air 582, registration G-BZEJ, was conducting a private flight from Sandown Airport to Otherton Airfield. During the flight, the pilot encountered headwinds and turbulence, which prompted a change in route to avoid cloud layers near Brize Norton. Due to difficulties monitoring fuel levels during turbulence, the pilot opted to land at Blakehill Farm, a disused airfield, to refuel using a 20-litre container carried on board.
Following this stop, the pilot continued toward Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport. While approaching the airfield, the pilot requested an immediate approach due to low fuel levels. Shortly thereafter, the engine ceased operation because of fuel starvation. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field approximately 700 metres short of the runway threshold. The aircraft's nose gear bent and the glass fibre nose structure was crushed as the nosewheel dug into the soft, furrowed soil, causing the aircraft to tip forward and come to rest upside down. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had not performed a pre-flight fuel calculation for the intended route. Although a navigation application was being used on a portable electronic device—which possessed the capability to calculate required fuel—this feature was not utilized. Furthermore, the pilot had not established a specific plan for refueling en route or identified suitable landing sites for fuel stops prior to departure. The investigation also noted that while the pilot was aware of the need to refuel, the lack of a formal plan contributed to the sequence of events leading to the engine failure.