What happened
On Sunday, September 21, at 12:30 local time, a Cessna 206, registration F-GMIS, was conducting a parachute jump operation near Portiragnes, France. After completing jumps at 11,000 feet, the pilot began a descent at reduced power. During the transition, the pilot switched to the left fuel tank without activating the electric fuel pump. While flying the base leg of the landing pattern, the engine ceased operation.
Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a nearby field. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a ditch approximately 1.5 meters deep, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the fuel system state and the sequence of engine failure. Maintenance inspections following the accident revealed a significant discrepancy in fuel levels between the tanks. Specifically, approximately 50 liters of fuel remained in the left tank, while only 3 liters of fuel were found in the right tank. It was also noted that the aircraft door had been removed to facilitate the parachute operations, which increased the ambient aerodynamic noise in the cockpit.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by inappropriate fuel management.
- The pilot failed to engage the electric fuel pump when switching to the left tank.
- The low fuel level in the right tank indicates that the engine was likely running on the remaining fuel in that tank until it was exhausted, or the switch occurred after the primary supply was depleted.