What happened
On 14 September 2021, a Beech 18 (registration G-BKGL) was performing a post-maintenance functional check flight from Bastia-Poretta airport in Corsica. The flight was being conducted by a pilot accompanied by a technician and a passenger. The aircraft had recently undergone engine repairs to replace a cylinder following a previous oil pressure issue.
During the downwind leg of the landing circuit, the right engine shut down, followed approximately 20 seconds later by a significant power reduction in the left engine. The aircraft began a rapid descent, losing between 900 and 1,500 feet per minute. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot attempted a forced landing near a mandarin grove. The aircraft struck a line of trees, causing the right wing and engine to be torn from the airframe. A post-impact fire broke out, destroying the aircraft. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries, while the technician also suffered injuries. All three occupants successfully evacuated the wreckage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine failure sequence and the fuel system configuration. Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the fuel selectors were positioned in the "N/ose Tank" position. While the engines showed no signs of mechanical failure prior to the impact, the investigation looked into the possibility of fuel starvation.
Analysis of the fuel system revealed that the ergonomics of the selector handles could lead a pilot to mistakenly believe the front tanks were selected when the nose tank was actually in use. The investigation also considered the pilot's health and fatigue levels, noting that the pilot had reported feeling unwell on the morning of the flight. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot's reliance on memory rather than a checklist may have prevented the detection of the incorrect selector position during pre-flight checks.