What happened
On July 1, 2008, an Avions Pierre Robin DR 400/180 was conducting a flight from Ahlen-Heidenheim to Strausberg under visual flight rules. While cruising at 3,200 feet, the pilot switched the fuel selector from the wing tanks to the fuselage tank. Shortly after this change, the engine began to misfire and subsequently failed.
Unable to restart the engine, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a grain field near Grauwende, approximately 1,100 meters in length. The approach was made parallel to a hedge that stood between 10 and 15 meters high. During the landing sequence, the wingtip struck the vegetation, causing the aircraft to yaw left. The nose gear struck the ground with significant force, leading to a rollover. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the wreckage independently after unbuckling the safety belts.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the cockpit controls. At the time of the investigation, the aircraft was found overturned and destroyed, with the fuselage broken behind the baggage compartment. The nose gear attachment had suffered a structural failure.
Investigators checked the fuel system and found that the fuel selector was set to the "OFF" position. While no fuel was present at the carburetor or in the line from the electric pump, fuel began to flow again once the selector was switched back to the main tank. Approximately 85 liters of fuel remained in the main tank. The pilot reported that the cockpit controls were not moved following the impact, as they exited the aircraft immediately.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred immediately after the pilot switched the fuel selector from the wing tanks to the fuselage tank.
- Fuel starvation or a lack of fuel delivery to the engine was the primary factor leading to the engine shutdown.
- The aircraft rollover was caused by the wing striking a hedge during the emergency landing, which induced a leftward rotation and subsequent nose gear impact.