Accident Sequence
On September 14, 2021, a light airplane took off from Bastia-Poretta Airport at 1010 local time for a post-maintenance control flight. The aircraft had undergone replacement of cylinder n°5 on the right engine the previous day, following a loss of hydraulic pressure on August 25 during a flight from Croatia. The pilot, who was slightly ill, conducted the flight despite his condition.
Six minutes after departure, the pilot informed air traffic control that the control was complete and requested to return. Due to departing traffic, he was instructed to fly along the mountain for a left-hand circuit to land on runway 34. Seven minutes later, the right engine failed, followed 20 seconds later by loss of power on the left engine. With a rate of descent between 900 and 1,500 feet per minute, the pilot was unable to reach the airport and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane impacted trees and crashed in an orchard, bursting into flames.
All three occupants escaped the airplane by themselves and were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by the post-crash fire.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the fuel selectors were most likely in the 'Nose' position at start-up. The pilot believed the main tanks were selected. He probably took off and flew using the 'Nose' tank, which was common to both engines, without realizing it. At the end of the downwind leg, having likely consumed all fuel in the 'Nose' tank, the right engine stopped. The left engine then also suffered fuel starvation.
This hypothesis is consistent with the positions of the left and right fuel selectors found on 'Nose' in the wreckage and the pilot's initial statement that the selectors had not been manipulated. The pilot, unable to maintain altitude and too far from the runway, collided with trees during the forced landing. His attention was focused on flight path, and he did not switch off the battery, magnetos, or fuel supply. During impact, the right engine and wing tore off, and a fire ignited.
Factors that may have contributed to the probable misselection include the pilot's lack of experience on the aircraft type, the ergonomics of the fuel selector levers that could have indicated 'Front' instead of 'Nose', the pilot's impaired state due to health and fatigue, and a possible objective-destination bias from repair delays. These factors likely hindered proper detection and correction of the selector position.