What happened
On Saturday, September 13, 1997, at approximately 17:00, a Robin DR 400-180 (registration F-BVMI) was engaged in a local flight departing from Hautot-le-Vatois. The aircraft, operated by a flying club, was carrying a pilot and three passengers.
Prior to the flight, the aircraft had been operated for 54 minutes with the fuel selector set to the rear tank. During the takeoff roll, the pilot intentionally maintained this rear tank selection in an attempt to optimize the aircraft's center of gravity. As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 300 feet during the initial climb, the engine ceased operation. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing in an open field. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel system and the state of the tanks following the accident. They determined that while the wing tanks were full, the rear tank was empty. The investigation focused on the fuel selector configuration and the pilot's decision-making regarding fuel management during the takeoff phase.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by inadequate fuel management.
- The pilot elected to takeoff using the rear tank to influence the aircraft's weight and balance, but this tank had been depleted during the previous flight segment.
- The investigation noted that, unless specific instructions in the flight manual dictate otherwise, takeoff should always be performed with the fuel selector set to the fullest tank.