Accident Overview
On 12 November 2015 at 09:54 local time, a Cessna 182K registered F-BOJU was engaged in a local flight from Le Touquet aerodrome with a pilot and a passenger. During the initial climb after a touch-and-go on runway 13, the engine lost power. The pilot altered the trajectory to avoid a localizer antenna while the passenger extended full flaps. The aircraft landed approximately 30 meters beyond the runway end. Both pilots applied brakes, and the airplane slid in wet grass for about 160 meters before striking the aerodrome perimeter fence. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Occupants and Aircraft
The pilot held a private pilot license issued in 2006 with about 480 flight hours. The passenger, also a private pilot licensed in 2009 with about 385 hours, was in the right seat. Neither had flown a Cessna 182 before, though both had experience on a Cessna 172. The aircraft, built in 1966, had logged 2,040 hours. Its airworthiness certificate had expired about two months prior. A ferry permit had been issued on 6 November 2015 for a convoy flight to Carcassonne for maintenance.
Fuel System Observations
After the accident, the fuel selector valve was found in the "BOTH" position. Draining the tanks revealed approximately 0.75 to 1 liter of water in the right tank. The carburetor bowl contained a mixture of gasoline and water. The tanks held about 135 liters (right) and 145 liters (left). The last refueling was a full fill on 5 June 2013, after which the aircraft flew 1 hour 40 minutes until 29 August 2013, then remained parked outdoors for over two years. Before the accident flight, 50 liters were added to the right tank and 22 to the left (the latter reached full level). The fuel comprised about 75% gasoline that was nearly two and a half years old.
Witness Statements
The pilot stated that during the pre-flight inspection, the maintenance shop chief told him he was unsure of the fuel quantity but thought the right tank was empty. The pilot drained the tanks but nothing came from the right tank drain, reinforcing this belief. He did not visually check the tanks. He selected the fuel valve to "LEFT" for start, taxi, run-up, and takeoff, switching to "BOTH" in the downwind leg. The engine power loss occurred abruptly during the initial climb. The maintenance shop chief stated that he had performed engine run-ups on the left tank or both tanks, but no run-ups were recorded after January 2015.
Investigation Findings
The aircraft had been parked outside for an extended period, allowing water accumulation in the right fuel tank, possibly due to a defective filler cap seal or condensation. The fuel in the tanks had degraded due to aging, as gasoline older than about three months can exhibit reduced octane and flammability. The maintenance shop did not follow storage procedures for prolonged parking, and no detailed inspection or fuel replacement was performed before the accident flight.