What happened
On Saturday, October 5, 2002, at 17:30, a Loravia SFL 25 R motor glider, registration F-CHCU, was performing a series of glider towing operations at the Lessay aerodrome. During the sixth tow of the session, shortly after takeoff, the engine stopped while the aircraft was climbing at an altitude between 200 and 300 feet.
The pilot immediately released the glider and shut off the engine's electrical circuit. The motor glider subsequently performed an emergency landing in a meadow aligned with runway 25, maintaining its heading with minimal deviation. The glider pilot, following the release, performed a turn and landed on runway 07. The aircraft sustained damage to its ailerons and tailwheel.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft following the incident. Although the fuel gauge indicated 7.5 liters of fuel remaining, a manual draining of the tank revealed that only 5 liters were actually present. During the inspection of the fuel system, investigators discovered a plastic fuel canister seal inside the fuel tank.
The motor glider's fuel tank is equipped with two separate fuel pickups: one located at the front and one at the rear. The investigation focused on how the fuel delivery was interrupted during the climb.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by a disruption in the fuel supply.
- Due to the low remaining fuel level and the longitudinal pitch of the aircraft during takeoff, the engine was unable to draw fuel from the forward pickup.
- The plastic seal from a refueling canister had entered the tank and likely caused a partial or total blockage of the rear fuel pickup.