What happened
On June 14, 2013, a Beech E 33 C was performing circuit training at the Neustadt/Aisch airfield (EDQN). During the final approach of the second circuit, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. Witnesses observed an irregular engine running and subsequently heard engine surges followed by a complete engine failure.
As the aircraft passed over a nearby forest and a railway line, it began to bank to the left. The aircraft struck the ground in an open field approximately 800 meters west-southwest of the airfield. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the wreckage and the aircraft's maintenance history. The engine was found torn from its mounts, and the propeller blades showed evidence of impact. Investigators analyzed the fuel system, noting that the fuel selector switch was set to the right tank. While the left tank contained approximately 50 liters of fuel, the right tank was depleted.
Technical inspections of the Beech E 33 C revealed no mechanical defects or maintenance deficiencies. The investigation also noted that the pilot's view of the fuel quantity gauges was partially obstructed by the position of the control column, and the fuel selector switch was located in an inconvenient position in the cockpit floor.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion in the right tank.
- The pilot likely flew the right tank to empty without realizing it, as the control column partially obscured the fuel gauges.
- Due to the low altitude during the go-around, the pilot may not have had sufficient time to switch to the left tank to restore fuel flow.
- The aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall during the emergency descent, leading to the fatal impact.