What happened
On June 19, 2009, at 13:36 local time, a Piper PA-18 departed from Egelsbach airfield for a training flight. The aircraft was occupied by two pilots: an experienced instructor and a student pilot in the front seat. Shortly after takeoff from runway 27, the aircraft entered a left-hand turn at a low altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft flew over a stationary helicopter at approximately 200 feet. The flight path then took the aircraft over a treeline adjacent to the airfield, where it ultimately struck a grassy area of a sports field in Erzhausen.
The impact occurred with a nose-high pitch and a left yaw. The aircraft's fuselage was severely deformed, and both wings sustained heavy damage, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. The instructor sustained serious injuries, while the student pilot suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the flight path to determine the cause of the accident. Investigators found no evidence of technical malfunctions in the engine or propeller; the propeller showed no significant damage, and the spark plugs appeared normal. However, the investigation of the carburetor revealed it was empty of fuel.
Analysis of the fuel tanks showed a significant imbalance in fuel levels: the left wing tank contained approximately 50 liters, while the right wing tank contained only about 1.5 liters. The investigation also noted that the tandem seating configuration of the Piper PA-18 limited the visibility of the instructor seated in the rear.
Findings
- The accident was caused by insufficient fuel supply to the engine, which led to a loss of power during the initial climb.
- Following the engine issue, the pilot attempted an immediate turn back to the airfield to land on the grass runway, but the altitude was insufficient to complete the maneuver.
- The aircraft entered a stall during the attempt to land on the sports field, leading to the crash.
- The significant difference in fuel levels between the wing tanks suggests the fuel selector may have been set to the nearly empty right tank.