Dual engine failure and forced landing near FALA

No fatalities • Lanseria, South Africa • Landing (descent or approach)

A training flight involving a type conversion exercise ended in a forced landing after both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion.

What happened

During a local training flight intended for type conversion instruction, an aircraft experienced a sequence of engine failures. The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a trainee, was accompanied by two additional passengers. While performing the third circuit following a touch-and-go maneuver on runway 06L, the right-hand engine ceased operation shortly after takeoff.

In an effort to reach runway 17, the crew maintained a low-altitude left-hand circuit. During this maneuver, the left-hand engine also failed. During the descent, the aircraft struck and severed three 11kV electrical lines. The aircraft subsequently performed a forced landing with its landing gear retracted, coming to rest approximately 1 km from the threshold of runway 17, north of FALA. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and there were no other injuries among the occupants.

Findings

An inspection of the wreckage indicated that the two front tanks selected via the fuel selector were empty. Prior to the flight, the trainee pilot had refueled the aircraft, believing the main tanks were filled to capacity and adding 70 litres to each inboard auxiliary tank. However, there was conflicting information regarding the fuel levels in the center auxiliary tanks.

The aircraft features three tanks per wing: Front, Rear Auxiliary, and Auxiliary. The cockpit is equipped with only a single fuel quantity gauge, which requires the pilot to manually use a seven-position selector knob to monitor different tanks. At the time of the accident, the selector knob was set to the left and right front tanks, which had run out of fuel.

Probable cause

The dual engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion resulting from improper refueling and the inability to monitor all fuel tanks via the single-gauge selector system.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-03-14 Beechcraft G18S accident near Lanseria, South Africa?

A training flight involving a type conversion exercise ended in a forced landing after both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion.

Were there any fatalities in the 2001-03-14 Beechcraft G18S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-03-14 involved a Beechcraft G18S, registration ZS-OEP, operated by Saxon Wings, at Lanseria, South Africa.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The dual engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion resulting from improper refueling and the inability to monitor all fuel tanks via the single-gauge selector system.

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