Accident Details
On the afternoon of 3 October 2022, a Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander BN2A-21, registered VHWQA and operated by Torres Strait Air, was conducting a non-scheduled passenger air transport flight. The aircraft departed from Saibai Island Airport, Queensland (QLD), bound for Horn Island Airport, QLD. On board were one pilot and six passengers, who were students.
Sequence of Events
Approximately 19 km northeast of Moa Island, both engines began to surge. The pilot elected to divert to Kubin Airport on Moa Island. As the aircraft passed south of the township of Saint Pauls, the pilot determined that there was insufficient altitude remaining to reach the airport. Consequently, the pilot executed a forced landing on a road located 7 km east-northeast of Kubin Airport.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage in the forced landing. There were no reported injuries to the pilot or the passengers.
Investigation Findings
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigated the incident. The probable cause was determined to be fuel starvation, which likely led to the dual engine speed fluctuations and associated power loss. The exact mechanism of the fuel starvation was not conclusively identified. However, the investigation found that the pilot did not operate the aircraft's fuel system in accordance with the aircraft flight manual. Additionally, the configuration and location of the fuel controls and tank quantity gauges were probably not conducive to rapid and accurate interpretation. The aircraft manufacturer had released a service letter in June 2022 detailing an optional modification to centralize the fuel system controls and gauges, but this modification was not installed on VH-WQA. The ATSB noted that these factors increased the risk of inadvertent fuel tank selection.